Can You Pass a Bulgarian College Entrance Exam?

The other 15 Fulbright-Hays teachers and I visited the English Language and Literature Department of Plovdiv University two days ago. Many of their students go on to study in the United States and Britain. Moreover, an increasing number of these graduates choose to take jobs abroad as they are highly trained and can earn far more in Western Europe or the United States, than they can in Bulgaria. The result is a serious brain-drain as Bulgaria is raising its standard of living to be on par with Western Europe.

I've taken a few questions from the Admissions Test in English of Plovdiv University. See if you can answer them. Then send me your answers to find how well you did.

Choose the option (A,B,C or D) that is closest to the meaing of the original sentence:

1. It seemed that the table had risen a little toward the sky like a mechanical dancing platform.
A. The table seemed to rise a little toward the sky like a mechanical dancing platform.
B. The table seemed to have risen a little toward the sky like a mechanical dancing platform.
C. The table seemed rising a little toward the sky like a mechanical dancing platform.
D. The table seemed having risen a little toward the sky like a mechanical dancing platform.

2. We haven't had so mauch rain since April.
A. Not since April have we had so much rain.
B. Not since April we have had so much rain.
C. Not since April we have been having so much rain.
D. Not since April have we been having so much rain.

3. CNN has reported that Governor Anderson was shot this morning.
A. Governor Anderson has been reported to be shot this morning.
B. Governor Anderson has been reported to have been shot this morning.
C. It is reported that Governor Anderson has been shot this morning.
D. It was reported that Governor Anderson was shot this morning.

4. They went to the concert early. They wanted to get good seats.
A. They went to the concert early so they could get good seats.
B. They went to the concert early in order they got good seats.
C. They went to the concert early so that to get good seats.
D. They went to the concert early so they got good seats.

5. "Well,"she agreed, "you might take the car for a short ride down the hill."
A. She agreed to take the car for a short ride down the hill.
B. She agreed that I might have taken the car for a short drive down the hill.
C. She agreed that I might take the car for a short ride down the hill.
D. She agreed taking the car for a short ride down the hill.

Bulgaria: land of Continuity and Change

Learning Something Everyday in Bulgaria

If ever you ever are in Eastern Europe, and you refer to the former, Stalinistic governments as being communist, Bulgarians, Czechs, Poles, Slovaks and Rumanians will look at you as if you are not that intelligent. As Gavin Gallagher in my 9th period pointed out, communism involves the withering away of government and the sharing of ownership of production as well as property by the people. What the Eastern Europeans reached after World War Two was socialism, which encompassed the state controlling the means of production and most property. Another thing you realize is that we Americans have been to taught to look at these post-World War Two governments as complete failures. However, as one of our hosts pointed out, 80% of Bulgarians were illiterate and 80% of the country was undustrialized before the 1950s. The socialist radically changed that until Bulgaria was an exporter of industrialized goods, albeit military goods.

This rapid industrialization came at a price, though, to the environment. Alexander Ivanov took seven years to complete 120 ariel and was awarded recognition and prizes from National Geographic Magazine. I have included some of his photos that are on display on the pedestrain mall by Hotel Bulgaria, where I am staying. You can see the rest at http://alexanderivanov.com/en/news.html

Bulgaria: land of Continuity and Change

Over-Development of Bulgaria's Black Sea Coast

When you travel along Bulgaria's Black Sea Coast, certain realities become obvious. In a country where the average income is $400 a month, and there are white sandy beaches ringing the tourqoise waters of the Black Sea; development is desirable and necessary. Resorts built by Europeans with their Euros, Brits with their pounds as well as Levs of former leaders of Stalinistic Bulgaria are sprouting every where. However, it can go to far.

Bulgaria's authorities fail to stop overdevelopment of the Black Sea Coast
14:22 Mon 25 Feb 2008

The new law which regulates it was approved by Parliament in June of last year after a long delay and was defined as controversial by some and shameful by others. It gave the coastal municipalities two years time to draft and put into force new structural plans for their operation. As these plans also determine the purpose of the lands administered by the municipalities, critics say that, in effect, this means they could decide to allow construction anywhere on their territory.
The massive overdevelopment of Bulgaria's Black Sea coast continues. The new law, which came into force at the beginning of the year to regulate construction in the area, seems to do nothing much to limit the worrying trend.
Local media in Burgas alarmed that the building of a five-story hotel began on the beach near the ancient town of Sozopol, north of the resort Tsarevo on February 21. They argue that the construction site is illegal as it falls in a zone protected under the EU's Natura 2000 network.
Ecologists scored some points with the recent structural plan for the Tsarevo municipality, located on Bulgaria's southernmost coast near the border with Turkey, which will prohibit construction in the area of the Veleka River's mouth, the Silistar zone and the forests over one of the beaches near the village of Sinemorets.Bulgaria's authorities fail to stop overdevelopment of the Black Sea Coast. Source: http://www.propertywisebulgaria.com

Still, in terms of preserving their heritage, Bulgarians have done a great deal in the beach resort of Nessabar: the Basilica built on the coast most probably around the beginning of 5th century; the Old Bishop's Residence located in the centre of the town; St. Ivan the Baptist Church built much later, in the 11th century; frescoes dating back to the 13th century; St. Stefan Church or the so-called New Bishop's Residence are some examples that I saw. Source: http://www.bulgariansearesorts.com/nessebar_general_info.html

Bulgaria: land of Continuity and Change