Arab Spring (Listening)

1) At the beginning of the lecture, the speaker says, "My talk today is about something maybe a couple of you have already heard about. It's called the Arab Spring. Anyone heard of it?"

Why does she say, "Anyone heard of it"?

A) She thinks her audience will be unfamiliar with the topic.
B) She doesn't know if the audience can hear her well.
C) She is joking with the audience.
D) She thinks the audience will not understand the topic.


2) What is the lecture mainly about?

A) The reasons for and ramifications of Middle Eastern revolutions.
B) The goals of the Arab middle class and their influence on the economy.
C) Poverty's effect on politics in Muslim societies.
D) Data supporting theories of the causes of revolutions around the world.


3) The speaker believes that a key cause of the Egyptian revolution was:

A) the desperation of fruit vendors.
B) the disparity between the population's expectations and experience.
C) unemployment and poverty caused by years of economic mismanagement.
D) the unequal distribution of wealth in the country.


4) Which of the following can be inferred about the Egyptian government?

A) It has strict control over its population.
B) Until recently it was unconcerned about public opinion.
C) Its leaders are as optimistic about the future as its citizens.
D) It has not changed significantly in the last 5 years.


5) Which of the following is NOT a factor that influences men's support for women's rights in the Middle East?

A) Their country's Human Development Index
B) Their education levels
C) Their country's level of secularization
D) Their employment rate


6) The lecturer's opinion about the future of Egypt is most likely:

A) Somewhat pessimistic
B) Extremely apathetic
C) Mostly ambivalent
D) Cautiously optimistic