METU DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION SCHOOLS

ENGLISH DEPARTMENT
GRADE 8 SUGGESTED SEMESTER BREAK ACTIVITIES
NAME & SURNAME: 2022-2023 ACADEMIC YEAR

PART A: READING

READING I

A. Read the text and match the headings (A-F) with the paragraphs (1-5).

THE WRONG MAN

1. C

In Alfred Hitchcock’s film The Wrong Man, Manny Ballestero is a musician who lives in New York. Life
is not easy for Manny. His wife is ill, and he has bills to pay. Finally, he is forced to cash in an
insurance policy. When he goes to the local insurance office, the employees seem strangely nervous.
Manny looks just like the thief who robbed them the year before. While Manny is waiting, one of
them makes a phone call. Several minutes later, the police arrive. They arrest Manny and take him to
prison.

2. B

The film is a true story of mistaken identity, but with a happy ending. Manny is eventually released.
However, what the story shows is that our memory of a face or an event is not always perfect, even
in an extreme situation. So just how reliable is it?

3. E

“Evidence suggests that our recall of a frightening event is stronger,” says Professor Frank Turner.
“But even in these situations our memory can be distorted by certain details. For example, if the
crime involves a gun, a witness will probably focus on the weapon. As a result, other things are not
easy to remember. Memories of a criminal’s face, what they say or do, or of other people present are
less reliable.”

4. D

Experiments have also shown that our ability to identify people often depends on how we saw them.
For example, a three–quarter view of a face is much easier to remember than a profile. The disguises
people wear also affect your judgment. You will still have a good chance of identifying someone if
they are wearing glasses. However, if they have a wig or a hat on, you will only have a 70% chance of
recognition. If you then add or subtract a beard, it drops to 30%.

5. A

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In fact, all kinds of things can confuse our memory. In one famous case, a scientist was arrested after
a woman in New York picked him out of a line-up. She was convinced he was the man who had
broken into her house. However, the scientist was released a few hours later. Why? He had a very
good alibi. He was actually on a live television show while the crime was in progress. The woman was
watching the show when the burglar attacked her. What this proves is that our memories are
sometimes mixed up, making a victim’s account of a crime even less reliable. When it comes to
identifying people, we will more than likely choose the wrong person.

A. A Mixture of Memories
B. A Question of Details
C. A Case of Mistaken Identity
D. A Change of Appearance
E. An Imperfect Memory
B. Answer the following questions.
1- What does ‘they’ in paragraph 3 refer to? _____criminals________

2- What does ‘it’ in paragraph 4 refer to? _____________

3- What does ‘he’ in paragraph 5 refer to? _____________

4- What does local mean in paragraph 1?

a) regional b) international c) national

5- What does disguises mean in paragraph 4?

a) misleads b) dresses c) trickery

6- Explain how different clothing affects our judgments.

____________________________If you remember a feature of the person you could recognize
him/her more
easily._____________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
7- What does the writer say about the confused memory?
________It causes choosing the wrong
person.____________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________

READING II

A. Read the newspaper article and choose the most suitable heading A-H for each paragraph
(1-6). There is ONE extra heading.

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FIRST STEPS TO FITNESS

1. G

Dance methods are being used as part of a program to get promising young footballers in shape. In a
room beneath a football stadium in Sheffield, a city in the north of England, the teenagers who hope to
be the football stars of tomorrow are hopping up and down, balancing on one leg, and performing
various steps to the jazz music of Robbie Williams. Dressed in the traditional red and white stripes of
the local professional football club, members of the club’s youth team are being coached by Jane
McClaren, a classically trained jazz dancer.

2. f
The dance and football programme in Sheffield came about as the result of a meeting between local
football coaches and professional dancers. The aim was to share ideas on fitness and training and see
how experts in different fields dealt with similar problems. The programme that followed has been so
successful that other teams are now considering setting up similar schemes.
3. E
The idea for the meeting came originally from Mileva Drljaca, a specialist in contemporary dance. As
she recalls, it happened quite by chance: “I joined a gym which, it turned out, was also being used by
injured players from the local professional football team. As I watched, I realized that some of the
training techniques used by ballet dancers might help them towards recovery, and so I mentioned it to
their trainer.”
4.g

It is mainly thanks to her suggestion that football clubs are now discovering the concept of the ‘strong
centre’, one familiar to dancers for decades. “Both traditional and modern dance styles rely on strong
stomach muscles,” she explains. "You can prevent injury to the back and make it loose by having a
strong centre. Footballers need a loose back so that they can kick and twist, jump and head the ball,
and then land without injury.”

5.d
17-year-old Lewis Killen, one of the young players, was an instant convert. “I’m not really into dancing
and don’t go to discos,” he said. “But as soon as I started doing it, I could see how it would help. The
movements are very similar to those we do in football, especially when you have to turn quickly with
the ball”.
6.h
According to the club’s trainer, however, the initial reaction of most players to the new idea was more
cautious. Some of them were obviously worried that they might be laughed at. But having tried it, most
began to see the advantages of the programme. “They realise there are benefits to be gained from

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other disciplines,” he said. Young players at the club are now also being taught rock climbing and
swimming as an extension of the scheme.

7.b

Meanwhile, back at the stadium, the youth team players are training hard. They are going to perform
their dance routine at half time when Sheffield plays an important match next month. It will be the first
opportunity they have had to run on to the pitch in front of all the club’s fans, and they are keen not to
put a foot wrong.
A. A Break With Tradition

B. A Chance to Make a Good Impression

C. Gradual Acceptance

D. A Familiar Concept

E. A Lucky Coincidence

F. A Positive First Response

G. Comparing Approaches

H. Under Expert Guidance

B. Answer the following questions.

1- How did Mileva Drljaca decide to have a meeting? Explain.

______With seeing the club’s trainer she used her opportunity to do a

meeting____________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

2- Describe the character of Mileva Drljaca. Support your answer with evidence from the text.

____________Creative because she gathered football injury program with

dancing.___________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

3- Why do you think the club trainer has a sensitive approach towards the players? Support your
answer with evidence from the text.

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 Yes because In my opinion none of the trainers of other clubs will accept this offer.
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

READING III

A. Below is a travel itinerary for a trip to Mexico. Read it and for questions 1-10, choose from the
places A-D.

Which place(s)…
___ 1- has a very long shoreline?
___ 2- is the second largest city in the country?
___ 3- is located on the Pacific coast?
___ 4- is the home of a special kind of music?
___ 5- was built on the site of an ancient city?
___ 6- is like a traditional village?
___ 7- is the capital of the country?
___ 8- are by the beach?
___ 9- is an hour away from the capital by plane?
___ 10- is for people with expensive tastes?

WELCOME TO MEXICO

Mexico is one of the most beautiful and diverse countries in the world with a wide variety of
landscapes and ecosystems. Mexico has it all: deserts, swamps, snow-capped mountains, volcanoes,
tropical forests, and even deserted beaches. The traditions of dozens of cultures remain in Mexico,
making it an exciting holiday destination. There is something for everyone from ancient ruins and
camping to luxury hotels. Mexico is pleasant at any time of the year, but the most popular time to
visit is between May and October. Whatever time of year you decide to visit, get ready to enjoy one
of the most memorable holidays of your life.

Itinerary
A Mexico City (Days 1-4)
The tour begins in this crowded city of over 20 million people. It is the country’s capital and was built
on the ruins of Tenochtichlan, dating back to Aztec times. In the centre of the city lies the Plaza de la
Constitucion, which was built from stones taken from this ancient city. A short walk will take you to
the Alameda, one of the largest parks in Mexico City. Originally an Aztec marketplace, 1) it is now
surrounded by museums, bustling markets, shops, and restaurants. If you want a quick bite to eat,
street vendors can be found virtually everywhere selling good food at reasonable prices. If you are
ready for a night out of the town, then head to the Zona Rosa where you can enjoy lively
performances of traditional music and dance.
B Puerto Vallarta (Days 5-7)

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Situated at the foot of the imposing Sierra Madre Mountains, romantic Puerto Vallarta is little more
than an hour’s flight away from the capital. You will fall in love with the quaint charm of the Mexican
village atmosphere with its cobbled streets, fine old buildings, and beautiful squares. Puerto
Vallarta’s white sandy beaches stretch for over a hundred miles of unspoilt coastline, so you will
certainly be able to find a peaceful spot to relax.
C Guadalajara (Days 8-10)
Guadalajara is located in the heart of the country and is the second largest city in Mexico. It has a rich
history and has maintained its Spanish colonial atmosphere. Guadalajara is where ‘Mariachi’ music,
the Mexican Hat Dance, the sombrero, and the Mexican rodeo originated. If you are lucky enough to
be in the city during the October Festival, you will have the opportunity to see the rodeo and witness
breathtaking displays of horsemanship.

D Acapulco (Days 11-15)

Finally, we end our tour in fantastic Acapulco on the Pacific coast. It is undoubtedly the most famous
of Mexico’s cities and is renowned for 2) its glamour and luxury. The resort stretches for ten miles
around Acapulco Bay and there are numerous white beaches offering a wide variety of water sports,
but many of you may prefer to laze on the beaches or stroll along the promenade. If a little
adventure is what you are looking for, then you will marvel at the famous La Quebreda cliff divers
who leap from unbelievably high cliffs into the shallow water below.

B. Match the words in the text Welcome to Mexico with the following definitions (a-i).

( ) 1.diverse a. an occasion or situation that makes it possible to do something that

you want to do or have to do
( ) 2. landscapes b. someone who sells something

( ) 3.bustling c. It is beautiful because it has not been damaged by people

( ) 4.vendor d. attractive because it is unusual and especially old-fashioned

( ) 5.reasonable e. different or including many different types

( ) 6. quaint f. based on or using good judgment and therefore fair and practical

( ) 7. unspoilt g. a large area of the countryside

( ) 8. opportunity h. used to emphasize that something is true

( ) 9. undoubtedly i. full of activity

C. What do the following refer to?

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 1) it: __________________________________

2) its: _________________________________

READING IV

A. Read the text and for questions 1-11, choose the appropriate or matching text from A-D.

RUNNING FOR THEIR LIVES

Running is a great way to keep fit. We asked four people to tell us about their experiences.

Sue has been running for as long as she can remember. She has always been sporty, but now she
finds that running is her main exercise. ‘ There’s no need to pay for a gym, and the only equipment
you need is a good pair of running shoes. There are no excuses, you just put on your tracksuit, warm
up and off you go. You can go running whenever it suits you, even in the dark if you have some
reflective clothing. The bad weather puts some people off, but not me. I can run in snow with special
spikes on my shoes.’ Sue is always pushing herself harder and has started hill running recently. ‘It
makes your legs very strong. Even going downhill is not as easy as 1) it might seem; you have to keep
your body upright, not go too fast or brake too much. I’ve taken part in hill running races and I’m
really pleased with my progress.’

Jack took up running two years ago, but suffered injuries until he tried running barefoot. It’s
surprising how easy it is to run barefoot once you get used to 2) it. The human body was built to run
without shoes, and you run in a different way when you are barefoot. The ball of your foot, the part
just behind your big toe, hits the ground first, whereas if you have shoes on, the heel often absorbs a
lot of the shock. I started running along the beach and went on to run through fields and on soft
ground. Now I can even run barefoot on concrete, which is good because I live in New York City. You
have to watch where you are stepping, of course, because you don’t have shoes to protect you. I get
some strange looks from passers-by, but I love it. There are quite a lot of barefoot runners here, and
they have even organised barefoot races.’

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Simon says that running has changed his life. He can run a distance of 400 metres faster than most of
his friends at the running track, although he only took up the sport a few years ago. He is hoping to
improve his speed enough to enter international competitions and has ambitions to break records.
This would be an achievement for any young person, but the amazing thing about Simon is that he
has never had legs. ‘I wear artificial legs which were specially designed for running. They are lighter
than 3) the ones I wear for walking, and I can run as fast as many able-bodied athletes. Running is my
life; it is such a great feeling!’
D

Clare has just returned from a thirty-kilometre run. She’s been training for the Athens Marathon for
about five months. ‘You have to build up the distances slowly. My trainer’s advice is to increase the
distance by no more than ten percent each week. I started off running just a few kilometres a week
and now I’m running about 64 kilometres a week. I had a lot of difficulty at first with with sore feet,
and I need to buy new running shoes every other month. I will be eating a lot of carbohydrates in the
week before the race, as 4) this is supposed to help the body keep going.’ This will be the first time
she has run a marathon. ‘I’m so excited. I’m hoping to complete it in under four hours, but even if
I don’t, I know it’ll be a wonderful experience.’

In which paragraph(s) do you read about

a person with a disability? 1

someone who has been running for many years? 2

a personal goal? 3 4

the importance of a training programme? 5

different techniques needed for running? 6 7

special diet requirements? 8

problems that running can cause? 9 10

how convenient and inexpensive running is? 11

B. What do the following refer to?

1) it: __________________________________

2) it: __________________________________

3) the ones: ____________________________

4) this: ________________________________

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C. Which of the people above do you find inspiring for your own life? Explain.

_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________

READING V

A.Read the text and choose the answer (a, b, c or d) according to the text.

TOMORROW’S TECHNOLOGY TODAY

The annual Consumer Electronics Show, which is held in Las Vegas, always creates a lot of
excitement. Around 110,000 people attend the event to find out about the latest developments in
everything from mobile phones to televisions.

Firstly, big monitors are still getting bigger: the largest plasma screen yet is on show. At 152 inches
across, it is the giant of home cinema. However, screen size is not the major development here; the
really new trend is 3D television. After the success of 3D movies, manufacturers promise that 3D
television which doesn’t cost a fortune will be available for home use within a few years. There were
some problems with 3D at first. For example, it used to make some viewers feel a bit sick, but that
problem has been corrected. There was also no 3D video until this year, but manufacturers promise
that three-dimensional content will soon be available on Blu-ray discs. Unfortunately, viewers will
still need to wear special glasses to enjoy the 3D effect. This is particularly annoying for shortsighted
people, who will need to wear two pairs of glasses.

Another major trend in new technology is that, as consumers show more interest in energy-saving
devices, it is becoming greener. A power socket that you can control from the Internet won an award
for green technology and there are a lot of gadgets to recharge your devices using wind and solar
power, although they will probably be slower than conventional methods. A solar-powered mobile
phone will certainly be very useful in countries where not everyone has electricity.

Mobile phones will keep getting smarter. There is now a phone that will write your emails for you if
you just speak into it. It uses technology called voice recognition to do this. This is going to save users
a lot of time and energy and will be especially welcome for people who have never learnt to text! Yet
another device does the opposite. Once it has scanned a text it will read it out. This is great for
anyone with sight problems, for instance, or for people who have difficulty reading.

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For those who find a laptop screen too small, another invention will be useful. When you run out of
screen space on your laptop, you will simply clip on extra monitors that will allow you to watch a film
on one while checking your emails on another. You will also be able to use your TV as a computer
with the help of a box that you plug into your TV. This means you will be able to have the Internet on
your TV. This has been possible for a while, but it used to be extremely complicated to set up. The
new device will make it available to everyone at a reasonable price.

Generally, technology is getting cleverer, faster, greener and cheaper. The gadgets at the Consumer
Electronics Show will not be in the shops for some time, but when they do go on sale, they may be
surprisingly affordable.

1.The Consumer Electronics Show__________.

A. sells the latest gadgets
B. is held every two years
C. is for computer experts
D. attracts large numbers of people
2. The most interesting trend in television is__________.
A. the size of screens
B. reasonable prices
C. the development of 3D
D. plasma screens
3.Green gadgets are becoming more popular because __________.
A. they have won awards
B. you can recharge them easily
C. they can save money
D. they save energy
4. What does the word it in paragraph 3 refer to?
A. a major trend
B. new technology
C. consumer interest
D. the power socket
5. A mobile phone with voice recognition technology can__________.
A. change your voice to text
B. read your emails out loud
C. accept spoken orders
D. help you learn to read and write

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6. If you want to use your TV to surf the Internet, you will need __________.
A. an extra screen
B. a special box
C. a laptop computer
D. a lot of money

B. Which gadget at the Consumer Electronics Show would you like to have? Explain your answer by
giving evidence from the text.
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________.

C. Match the words with the definitions (a-f). There is ONE extra definition.
a. unable to see objects clearly unless they are very close
( ) 1. trend b. that you can get, buy or find
( ) 2. manufacturers c. a small tool or device that does something useful
( ) 3.available d. a person or company that produces goods in large quantities
( ) 4. short-sighted e. a general direction in which a situation is changing or developing
( ) 5. reasonable f. not too expensive

READING VI

A. Read the text and choose the answer (A,B,C or D) which fits the best according to the text.

COLOUR AND THE CONSUMER

The world of the consumer is becoming a more colourful place, as manufacturers use colours to
encourage shoppers to buy their products. A supermarket sells thousands of products and each one
is carefully packaged in particular colours to catch the shopper’s eye. The colour of the package gives
the consumer information about the product inside.

Different colours create different impressions. For example, a dessert aimed at an adult market may
be packaged in black to suggest that it is sophisticated and expensive, whereas a yoghurt which
appeals to children will probably be in a brightly coloured carton. Sweets and chocolate are also
often sold in bright red and pink wrappers, which indicate sweetness. Perhaps brightly coloured

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wrappers are also an attempt to appeal to the child in every one of us. A purple and gold box of
chocolates, however, indicates that the contents are top quality and luxurious. There is also quite an
obvious difference in the colours of products aimed at men and women. Men’s toiletries, for
example, often come in black or grey packaging, whereas, those aimed at women are more likely to
be in softer shades like blue or pink.

It is important that the colours on a particular product stay the same. If a packet of our favourite
snack is not the right colour, we might not buy it. Also, the colour of the packaging can help the
consumer in a hurry to pick out his or her favourite brand from amongst the countless others on the
shelves. However, there is a danger that competing brands could copy the colours and design on the
packet, so that when two brands are side by side on the shelves, the consumer could be tricked into
selecting the wrong one.

The least colourful products in the supermarket are probably the supermarkets’ own products.
Sophisticated, bright packaging costs money, so these products are normally sold in very plain
packaging, which makes them easily recognisable as the more economical alternative. As
supermarkets save money on packaging, these savings can be passed on to the customer.

The colour of the food is as important as the colour of the packaging. When we open a tin or carton,
we have certain expectations. Fresh food is very attractive. Markets full of fresh fruit and vegetables
are incredibly colourful places, so we associate strong colours with fresh, tasty food. When food is
processed, though, some of these natural colours are lost. This is why the food industry has always
added colours to a range of food. Experiments have shown that when a food looks more like the
fresh version, people think it tastes better. Sometimes the food industry creates an unnaturally
strong colour in food. For example, banana ice cream is usually yellow, and strawberry yoghurt looks
quite pink. If you made these items in your kitchen, the colours would be very much lighter, but
consumers have come to expect brighter colours. In the past, the colours that were added to food
were created in a laboratory. Nowadays, however, there is a trend towards natural food colours, as
consumers are getting worried about the effects of artificial colours on health. Your bright pink
strawberry yoghurt may be coloured with beetroot, a dark pink vegetable, for example.

There’s no doubt that colour enhances our experience as consumers. But we should be aware that
manufacturers often use it to create a false impression, and remember that it’s easy to be fooled by
the colour of the package or the food itself.

1. Colours are used in packaging of consumer goods _______.

A. to make the product attractive to consumers
B. to make the supermarket more attractive
C. to tell customers how to use the product
D. to make most products look similar

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2. Bright colours particularly appeal to_______.
A. men
B. women
C. children
D. adults

3. Black, purple, and gold packaging are_______.

A. for food products only
B. for products aimed at children
C. used to show better quality
D. for products aimed only at men

4. Supermarkets’ own products_______.

A. are sold in brightly coloured packaging
B. are cheaper than other brands
C. are difficult to recognise
D. are more attractive than other brands

B. 1- ‘which’ in Paragraph 2 refers to _________________

2- ‘it’ in Paragraph 3 refers to _____________________
3- ‘it’ in Paragraph 6 refers to _____________________

C.Which strategy mentioned above do you think is the most effective? Why? Explain your answer
by giving evidence from the text.
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
D. Match the words (1-6) with their synonyms. (a-f)

( ) 1. encourage a. innumerable

( ) 2. indicate b. hearten

( ) 3. countless c. refined

( ) 4. sophisticated d. illustrate

( ) 5. associate e. improve

( ) 6. enhance f. identify

READING VII

A.Read the text and for questions 1-5 and choose the best answer, (A, B, C or D).

THE DECATHLON

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The Olympic Games have changed a lot since their origins in Ancient Greece. Today, athletes from
countries all over the world take part and the Olympics is a big business, watched by millions on
television. Some things, though, have stayed the same. The athletes could make a lot of money from
winning, just like today’s competitors. In the ancient Games, a great champion might have received
as much as a year’s pay for winning a race.

Another thing that hasn’t changed is the search for an all-round champion, somebody who can
defeat their opponents at a number of different sporting events. In the ancient Olympics, athletes
competed in the pentathlon. This consisted of the long jump, the discus, the javelin, a running race,
and wrestling. The first winner, in 708 BC, was Lampis of Sparta, who must have been a great athlete
to beat so many others from all over the Hellenic world. The pentathlon was an important part of the
Olympics until Emperor Theodosius of Rome banned the Games in 393 AD.

The Stockholm Olympics of 1912 brought back this tradition of the search for all round greatness.
The modern pentathlon was included (shooting, swimming, fencing, riding, and running) and so was
the modern decathlon (ten events) with the heptathlon (seven events) for women being introduced
later. So what drives someone to take on these challenges and push their body to its limits? I met the
American decathlete, Bruce Thorpe, in New York and told him he must have been crazy to take up
the decathlon. He laughed.

‘Yes, I think I probably was. I could have done lots of different sports, but I chose the decathlon. It’s
very tough and it demands a lot of different skills. You have to train just as hard as other athletes,
only you have to do it in ten different events! I think we’re probably all a little crazy, but it’s very
satisfying in the end’, he said. I asked him to explain what happens in the decathlon.

‘The way it works is you complete each event and you get points, depending on how well you do in
that event. At the end of two days, the person with the most points is the champion and takes the
gold medal, the second person gets the silver, and the third the bronze. We start with the 100
meters, the long jump, the shot put, the high jump, and the 400 meters. The second day, it’s the 110-
metre hurdles, the discus, the javelin, the pole vault, and the one that we all dread, the 1500
meters.’ I asked him what made the 1500 meters such a struggle. ‘All the other events demand speed
or strength, but this long race tests your stamina.’

1. The writer says that athletes today_______.

A. are not as popular as in ancient times

B. are much better than in ancient times
C. treat the Olympics like a business
D. can become wealthy through sport

2. ‘consisted of’ in paragraph 2 means_______.

A. jumped C. included
B. competed D. accepted

3. According to the passage, the heptathlon for women_______.

A. is much easier than the decathlon

B. is similar to the ancient pentathlon

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 C. tests the ability to ride a horse
D. became an Olympic event after 1912

4. What do you have to do to win a gold medal in the decathlon?

A. Score more points than all the other competitors.
B. Beat the other competitors in at least three events.
C. Finish each event in the top three.
D. Complete the events in the right order.

5. What does Bruce say about the events?

A. The 1500 meters should be on the first day.
B. The first day is tougher than the second.
C. The 1500 meters is different from the other events.
D They look easier than they actually are.

B. What kind of personality traits do you think Bruce Thorpe has? Support your answer with
evidence from the text.
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

C. Match the words with the definitions (a-e). There is ONE extra definition.

a. someone who is competing against you

( ) 1. struggle
b. to win against someone in a game, fight, or election
( ) 2. defeat
c. not willing to change his/her ideas
( ) 3. tough
d. an attempt to do something that takes a lot of effort over a period of time
( ) 4. opponent
e. strong and able to deal with difficult situations

READING VIII

A. You are going to read a magazine article about the adventure sport called bungee-jumping. For
questions 1-7, choose the best answer (A, B, C or D) which fits best according to the text.
LIVING DANGEROUSLY

People cross continents to bungee-jump off Victoria Falls in Africa

Bungee-jumping is not new. Millions of people have jumped from high places with elastic tied to
their ankles, but until recently, I wasn’t one of them. There are plenty of places to try a jump, some
of which aren’t far from my home. Unlike my friends, however, I was looking for a better view than

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that from a crane in a London suburb, so I chose one of the world’s classic bungee locations: I jumped
from the bridge which crosses Victoria Falls in Central Africa. I learned something from the
experience; I discovered that I am scared of heights.

At the Falls, one of the world’s top bungee operators arranges for a steady stream of tourists to
throw themselves off the bridge. They even have to queue for the privilege. This queue, you might
imagine, would be a good place to build up your confidence, as you watch the brave people ahead of
you successfully complete the challenge. However, in practice, it gives you time to lose your nerve.
Not least because those in front, as far as you can see, jump off the bridge and are never seen again. I
discovered later that they are pulled back up and unclipped on the lower part of the bridge, out of
sight of those waiting to jump.

The jumper in front of me, a young girl, was obviously terrified. Two employees helped her towards
the jump point, but while her feet were edging forwards, the rest of her body was saying “no way”.
In the end, shaking like a leaf, she chickened out and sat down to get her legs untied. Although her
refusal had been recorded on video camera, she didn’t appear ashamed – she seemed more relieved
as far as I could tell.

My sympathy for her increased as my turn got closer. All loose possessions were removed from my
pockets, and a harness was tightened around my body. “This is just for your security,” I was told, but
I didn’t feel greatly reassured. Then it was my turn to sit down. My ankles were tied together and the
length of elastic was attached. The waiting, at least, was over and for that I was grateful. Helpers on
either side led me to the edge. Looking down, I suddenly felt real fear.

The waters of the River Zambezi were far below, one hundred metres below according to the
brochure. Although I never once let go of the grab rails, my helpers encouraged me to gradually
move my feet forward until I reached the edge of the metal step that stood between me and the
drop. At this point, if I’d had the courage, I might have backed out. There were only 30 people
watching, none of whom I was likely to see again. I could live with the disappointment – and I knew
the employees weren’t allowed to push me. But my rational mind talked me round. Thousands of
people had done this jump and survived to tell the tale. I took a deep breath, spread out my arms
and toppled forwards. I fell quickly into the chasm. Then, there was a tug on my legs, and I slowed as
I neared the river’s surface.

And then I was being pulled back up again – and then dropping again, and so it continued. Strangely,
the fear was still with me when a man on a rope pulled me back towards the bridge, and what’s
more, it stayed with me. Not a moment too soon, I was pulled up onto the safety of solid ground.
Luckily, I landed on the Zambian side of the river, where I was staying in a hotel. I was glad that I
didn’t have to walk across the bridge. Even though it was wide, with a high railing, I just didn’t want
to go anywhere near that one hundred meter drop ever again.

1. Why hadn’t the writer tried bungee-jumping before?

A. He had a fear of heights.
B. It’s not possible where he lives.
C. He wanted it to be in a special place.
D. It didn’t appeal to his friends.
2. According to the writer, what was the disadvantage of the queue?
A. You could see how people felt after they’d jumped.
B. It meant that other people were waiting for you to jump.
C. You could see how confident the other jumpers were.

16
 D. It meant you had the chance to change your mind.
3. According to the writer, how did the young girl seem to feel about her experience?
A. Embarrassed by her lack of courage.
B. Glad that the whole thing was over.
C. Pleased that her attempt had been filmed.
D. Disappointed to have wasted an opportunity.
4. How did the writer feel while the equipment was being fitted?
A. Relieved that his turn had come.
B. Impressed by the safety procedures.
C. Grateful for the help he was given.
D. Concerned about his possessions.
5. What are the “grab rails” in paragraph 5 designed to do?
A. Stop your feet from slipping.
B. Keep you moving forwards.
C. Provide you with support.
D. Stop you from looking down.
6. What made the writer jump in the end?
A. It was better than being pushed.
B. He realized that he had no real choice.
C. It was better than looking silly.
D. He realized he wasn’t in danger.
7. What does “it” in paragraph 6 refer to?
A. Feeling of fear
B. The bridge
C. A feeling of safety
D. The rope

B. Find the words in the following questions.

a. Find a phrasal verb in Paragraph 3 that means “to decide not to do something because you are
too nervous”
_________________

b. Find an adverb in Paragraph 5 that means “slowly over a period of time”

________________

c. “Nerve” (Paragraph 2) is closest in meaning to ___________.

a. fear b. reality c. courage d. weakness

d. “reassured” (Paragraph 4) is closest in meaning to ___________.

a. convinced b. annoyed c. confused d. upset

READING IX

A. Read the text and for 1-4, choose the best answer: A, B, C or D.

Organic food: Why?

17
A recent survey by a leading market research company found that 82 percent of UK consumers want
a return to traditional farming, even if it means paying more for food. Today, many ills are laid at the
feet of conventional farming. BSE, foot-and-mouth, pollution, obesity and the disappearance of
sparrows have all been blamed on modern agriculture. And governments across Europe are keen to
show they care. They are increasingly keen to be seen as promoting not conventional farming
methods, but the new age version: organic. Europe is now the biggest market for organic food in the
world, expanding by 25 percent a year over the past 10 years. The German agriculture minister wants
to make 20 percent of the agriculture organic by 2016, and Denmark’s agriculture minister is herself
an organic farmer.

Organic farming is often claimed to be safer than conventional farming–for the environment, for our
children and for us. Yet after lengthy and ongoing research worldwide, science continues to reject
this claim. The UK’s cross-party House of Commons committee on agriculture announced that,
despite exhaustive investigation, it had failed to find any scientific evidence to prove ’that any of the
many claims made for organic farming are always and invariably true’.

The notion that organic food is safer than ‘normal’ food is contradicted by the fact that many of the
most common foods are full of natural toxins. Yet educated Europeans are more scared of eating
traces of a few, strictly regulated, man-made chemicals than they are of eating the ones that nature
create directly. Why? For most of human history the more artificial and elaborate your diet, the
better; when dominating nature was a constant battle, it was a sign of cultured living. The ancient
Romans distinguished between foods not as proteins versus carbohydrates, or even meat versus
vegetables, but as cultured versus wild. Farmed animals were a more civilized food than game. Wine
and bread, because they were created by man, were seen as symbols of cultured living - only
barbarians ate wild plants.

Today, Europeans, surrounded by plentiful food, fear not nature, but science. Our obsession with the
ethics and safety of what we eat with antibiotics in animals, additives, GM foods, and so on- are
symptomatic of a highly technological society that has lost its faith in its ability to put technology to a
positive end. In this context, the less touched by human hand something is, the more virtue we see in
it.

A dominant contemporary fear is that we are wrecking nature. This is the real significance of the
survey. It is not a vote of positive support for ‘traditional’ or organic farming - about which most of us
are blissfully ignorant-but rather a vote against human intervention in the countryside.

1. What information does the second paragraph provide?

A. Organic farming is safer for the environment than for people.

B. No proof has been found that conventional farming is worse than organic.

C. The committee on agriculture raised objections to organic farming.

D. The research on organic food was not entirely reliable.

2. According to the author, nowadays people_______.

A. are scared to eat what they cannot identify

B. believe natural chemicals are as dangerous as artificial ones

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 C. are concerned only about artificial chemicals in their food, not natural ones

D. believe that natural toxins should be removed from food.

3. What does the author say about the ancient Romans?

A. They didn’t rate wild animals’ meat very highly.

B. They preferred meat to bread and vegetables.

C. Their diet was healthier than that of Modern Europeans.

D. They introduced the distinction between proteins and carbohydrates.

4. Which of the following is closest to the author’s opinion?

A. Organic food is favored by those who support modern technology.

B. People usually only choose organic food after careful consideration of all the scientific
evidence.

C. The British are more organic-oriented than other nations.

D. Many people don’t know much about organic farming.

B. Find the words in the following questions.

a. Find an adjective in Paragraph 1 that means “very interested or enthusiastic”

_________________

b. Find a verb in Paragraph 5 that means “to destroy something completely”

________________

c. Find a verb in Paragraph 3 that means “to recognize the differences between two people, ideas
or things”
_______________

d. “Reject” (Paragraph 2) is closest in meaning to ___________.

a. support b. deny c. praise d. worry

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PART B: MULTIPLE CHOICE CLOZE

I. Read the text and decide which answer A, B, C, or D best fits each space.
DOG HANDLER

Bruno Holden worked for the police. As an experienced dog handler, he 1) ______ on complete
obedience from the dogs he trains. “If a policeman 2) ______ someone of 3) ______ a crime,”
Bruno explains, “he will usually arrest him. It is easier to make an arrest with a dog present. A good
police dog should 4) ______ a criminal from escaping but it should 5) ______ attack without a signal
from its owner.” Bruno’s dogs look very gentle. 6) ______, he warns me 7) ______ stroking them.
“They are 8) ______ in training,” he says, “so you can’t 9) ______ them if they bark and jump up at
people sometimes.”

The dogs stay with Bruno for about six months. They sleep in the kitchen. “Luckily, my wife doesn’t
10) ______ to them being there, “he says. Before I leave, he 11) ______ that I join him in the garden
“for a private show”. I watch 12) ______ the biggest dog pretended to arrest me. I stood there,
paralyzed with fear until the dog 13) ______ me go. At that moment I made a 14) ______ to myself
to obey the law at all times. I never want to be that close to a police dog again!

1) A demands B wants C insists D looks

2) A suspects B believes C thinks D realizes
3) A making B carrying C committing D achieving
4) A refuse B prevent C warn D make
5) A ever B hardly C never D scarcely
6) A Although B In spite C However D Since
7) A for B against C to D from
8) A still B yet C more D during
9) A accuse B complain C blame D tell
10) A object B mind C forbid D deny
11) A offers B tells C asks D suggests
12) A at B during C for D while
13) A allows B admits C let D permits
14) A promise B threaten C suggest D agree

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II. Read the text and decide which answer A, B, C, or D best fits each space.

THE MYSTERY OF THE CREEPING MAN

When I 1) ______ at Baker Street, I found Holmes huddled up in his armchair
deep in thought, with his pipe in his mouth. It was clear that he had been
thinking 2) ______ about something. After several minutes, he 3) ______ me
that someone had given him some very curious 4) ______ which had made
him 5) ______ whether dogs could help detectives in their work.
‘A dog,’ he explained, is like a mirror - it reflects the life of its owners. Have
you 6) ______ seen a happy dog in a gloomy family, or a sad dog in a happy one? Dangerous people
have dangerous dogs.’
‘But isn’t all this a 7) ______ exaggerated?’ I asked.
Holmes had refilled his pipe and sat down again, taking no 8) ______ of my question. He explained
that what he had said about dogs was very important to the problem he had started to 9) ______.
‘The question, Watson, is this: why 10) ______ Professor Presbury’s faithful Alsatian, Roy, try to bite
him?’
I sank back in my chair, disappointed. Had he 11) ______ me from my work for such a trivial matter?
Isn’t it strange,’ he 12) ______ on, ‘that an elderly philosopher, 13) ______ Alsatian has always been
his 14) ______ friend should be attacked twice by his own dog?’
‘The dog must be ill,’ I answered.
‘You could be 15) ______,’ said Holmes, ‘but what if he attacks no one else? And what if he only
attacks his master on special occasions? Curious, Watson, very curious.’
1) A reached B arrived C appeared D stopped
2) A lots B much C tough D deeply
3) A said B told C explained D proved
4) A information B events C ideas D incidents
5) A make B talk C wonder D inquire
6) A still B never C yet D ever
7) A lot B bit C fact D thing
8) A care B attention C sight D notice
9) A investigate B search C inquire D look
10) A does B has C must D could
11) A shouted B ordered C sent D called
12) A spoke B told C continued D went
13) A which B who C whose D that
14) A frankest B faithful C sincere D correct
15) A accurate B true C exact D right

21
III. Read the text and decide which answer A, B, C, or D best fits each space.

REALITY TV

Every day, millions of 1) ______ round the world 2) ______ into programmes like Big Brother. It
seems that 3) ______ just can’t get enough of them. But why do so many of us want to 4) ______
these programmes? The 5) ______ who star in these “reality” TV shows are becoming as familiar 6)
______ our own families. So are these new programmes very different from soap 7) ______? In the
8) ______, it seems, they are not. Both sorts of shows have good guys or heroes, and bad guys or 9)
______, just like in the soaps. They can both help us understand human behavior and each daily or
weekly 10) ______ usually ends with a 11) ______ so we have to 12) ______ in the next time to
check what has happened. But why do we want to see ordinary people on 13) ______? Are we so 14)
______ to TV that we just can’t turn it 15) ______ anymore? Or are our own lives really 16)
______ boring that we can only experience relationships through other people on the “box”?

1) A onlookers B spectators C seers D viewers

2) A switch B tune C channel D plug
3) A audiences B hearers C listeners D customers
4) A look B watch C stare D notice
5) A persons B players C people D actors
6) A than B so C as D that
7) A operas B dramas C shows D plays
8) A end B final C last D least
9) A critics B villains C casts D saints
10) A series B serial C episode D part
11) A serial B drama C cliff-hanger D series
12) A switch B tune C take D put
13) A glass B channel C stage D screen
14) A keen B addicted C fond D enthusiastic
15) A down B out C off D on
16) A rather B such C so D most

22
IV. Read the text and decide which answer A, B, C, or D best fits each space.

THREATS TO THE ENVIRONMENT

Nowadays people are more aware that wildlife all over the world is in 1) ______. Many 2)
______ of animals are threatened and could easily become 3) ______ if we do not make an effort
to 4) ______ them. There are many reasons for this. In some cases, animals are 5) ______ for their
fur or for other valuable parts of their bodies. Some birds, 6) ______ as parrots, are caught 7)
______, and sold as pets. For many animals and birds, the problem is that their habitat- the 8)
______ where they live – is 9) ______. More 10) ______ is used for farms, for houses, or industry,
and there are fewer open 11) ______ than there once were. Farmers use powerful chemicals to
help them grow better 12) ______ but these chemicals pollute the environment and 13) ______
wildlife. The most successful animals on earth – human beings – will soon be the only ones 14)
______, unless we can 15) ______ this problem.

1) A danger B threat C problem D vanishing

2) A marks B more C species D forms
3) A disappeared B vanished C empty D extinct
4) A harm B safe C protect D serve
5) A hunted B chased C game D extinct
6) A like B such C or D where
7) A lively B alive C for life D for living
8) A spot B point C place D site
9) A exhausting B departing C escaping D disappearing
10) A earth B land C soil D area
11) A spaces B air C up D parts
12) A products B fields C herbs D crops
13) A spoil B harm C wound D wrong
14) A survived B over C missing D left
15) A answer B calculate C solve D explain

23
V. Read the text and decide which answer A, B, C, or D best fits each space.

HOLIDAYS

Most people enjoy going 1) ______ for their holidays, and love having the opportunity to
2) ______ in an interesting city or a seaside 3) ______. If you speak 4) ______ languages, you can
make new friends, and 5) ______ home some interesting 6) ______ as presents. However, before
you can do that, you have to 7) ______ your destination, and that is often a problem! If you fly, then
you may find that your flight has been 8) ______. 9) ______ by train can also be difficult, since trains
are often 10) ______ in the summer, and you might have to reserve a 11) ______ in
advance. Whichever way you 12) ______, you might have problems with your 13) ______, and it is
often difficult to find good 14) ______. Apart from this, you might not be able to afford the 15)
______.

1) A out B forward C abroad D foreign

2) A remain B pass C spend D stay
3) A resort B post C too D one
4) A strange B stranger C foreigner D foreign
5) A fetch B take C go D get
6) A memories B souvenirs C memoirs D recollections
7) A reach B arrive C go D travel
8) A waited B reversed C delayed D booked
9) A Journeys B Travels C Voyages D Passes
10) A filling B occupied C overdone D crowded
11) A post B chair C seat D position
12) A voyage B travel C trip D tour
13) A bags B luggage C goods D sacks
14) A staying B homes C lodges D accommodation
15) A receipt B fair C cost D fur

24
VI. Read the text and decide which answer A, B, C, or D best fits each space.

A NIGHT AT THE THEATRE

Going to the theatre brings back happy memories, as it 1) ______ me of my very first
performance on stage, 2) ______ was thirty years ago. Parts of that particular night are so 3)
______ that I can still picture them as though it were yesterday. The excitement amongst the
actors, the 4) ______ applause and the party after opening night are memories which will 5)
______ with me for life.

I don’t know how we managed to do so well. The rehearsals were far from satisfactory because we
thought that we could make two rehearsals a week 6) ______ in fact we needed more. The
background 7) ______ for the last act wasn’t ready until an hour before the beginning of the play
despite the set builder’s best 8) ______. The director was so dissatisfied 9) ______ everything that
he didn’t even want to show up on the first night. Admittedly, I wouldn’t have wanted to either.

When the night finally arrived, we were all a bit worried. I remember 10) ______ through the
curtain ten minutes before the start and being amazed at the 11) ______ of a full house. Finally, it
was time for the curtain to 12) ______. In the end, we proved the director wrong and everything
went like clockwork.

1) A recognizes B reminds C recalls D remembers

2) A which B when C where D who
3) A lively B living C vital D vivid
4) A onlookers’ B viewers’ C audience’s D spectators’
5) A obtain B remain C last D stand
6) A when B where C which D whenever
7) A images B pictures C sights D scenery
8) A attempts B trials C efforts D tries
9) A by B with C in D at
10) A noticing B staring C glancing D watching
11) A vision B view C image D sight
12) A go up B rise up C lift up D bump up

25
VII. Read the text and decide which answer A, B, C, or D best fits each space.

Alberto: So how often do you 1) ______ your e-mail?

Bettina: At least once a day and sometimes more. If I’ve 2) ______ any messages, I usually answer
them straightaway and I always 3) ______ my friends’ messages on their birthdays.

Alberto: I use my computer mostly for word 4) ______.

Bettina: Don’t you ever 5) ______ the net?

Alberto: Sure, in fact I 6) ______ a fantastic website just the other day. It was 7) ______ official
site of the film A.I. You can actually chat to a robot on the site!

Bettina: And do you ever buy things 8) ______?

Alberto: Well, I bought some CDs and a new ring tone 9) ______ my mobile phone this morning.

Bettina: You really like your mobile, don’t you? What’s the worst experience you’ve ever had with a
computer?

Alberto: Once, when I had to hand 10) ______ a really important essay the next day, my computer
11) ______ and I lost the whole document.

Bettina: Hadn’t you 12) ______ a backup copy?

Alberto: No. Anyway it turns out the computer had a virus so the copy probably would have been
infected, too.

1) A look B see C check D watch

2) A received B arrived C retrieved D accessed
3) A give B send C transmit D put
4) A producing B processing C writing D working
5) A navigate B sail C travel D surf
6) A arrived at B reached C crossed D visited
7) A a B an C the D -------
8) A online B on hold C connected D plugged in
9) A from B by C for D at
10) A at B in C on D with
11) A dropped B hung up C closed D crashed
12) A made B done C produced D prepared

26
VIII. Read the text and decide which answer A, B, C, or D best fits each space.

PEDICABS

What do London and Edinburgh have in common? Well, they are both popular destinations for
tourists 1) ______ to learn about the cultural heritage of Britain and to see some spectacular sights.
However, they are also cities that offer an alternative form of transport: the pedicab. For those who
don’t like walking or are 2) ______ about polluting the environment, this is a(n) 3) ______ way to get
around.

The pedicab is a sophisticated version of a rickshaw, a 4) ______ of transport that has been
popular in the Far East for many years. Basically, it is a lightweight tricycle 5) ______ can carry up
to three passengers. There is no engine, so there is no pollution. The power is provided by your
driver, a fit cyclist! A short ride of around half a mile 6) ______£3 per passenger, which is rather
expensive, but there is no shortage of customers, with some drivers covering up to 40 miles and
carrying 50 different sets of passengers during a 7) ______ eight- hour shift.

The vehicles are very popular with tourists. In London, for example, you can enjoy a visit to a
theatre and then 8) ______ a pedicab ride to one of the many restaurants in Soho or the West End.
With around 250 pedicabs in operation, you should be able to find one easily. Be warned, though—
you won’t find one in the daytime, 9) ______ they only operate in the evenings. They have also
become a popular mode of transport for weddings, birthday parties, and so on. In Edinburgh, there
are now 40 pedicabs 10) ______ tourists between the city’s many attractions.

Some people are not 11) ______ on the idea of pedicabs, especially taxi drivers. 12)
______, it seems that they are here to stay, adding yet another dimension to Britain’s vibrant culture.

1) A anxious B keen C eager D enthusiastic

2) A regarded B afraid C concerned D troubled
3) A classic B model C fine D ideal
4) A type B shape C form D pattern
5) A where B that C who D when
6) A costs B sells C pays D amounts
7) A normal B different C usual D boring
8) A take B hold C grab D seize
9) A so B for C as D although
10) A looking B ferrying C sporting D keeping
11) A intense B keen C fond D eager
12) A Besides B Just as C In case D However

27
IX. Read the text and choose the best answer A, B, C, or D.

THE PIRATE

I don’t really have a very good sense of 1) ______ but I do love this 2) ______. It made me laugh so
much. I’ve never forgotten it: Jake and Ben, 3) _____ were two old pirates, met for the first time.
Jake had a wooden leg, a metal hook on the end of his arm, and a black patch over one eye. They
started talking about the days 4) ______they had been at sea. Ben asked Jake how he’d got his
wooden leg. ‘I fell overboard,’ said Jake. ‘The other pirates 5) ______to rescue me, but as they were
pulling me out, a shark 6) _____ was rather 7) _____ on eating me for dinner bit my leg off.’ ‘And
how did you get the hook?’ asked Ben. ‘I was having a sword fight with someone,’ said Jake. ‘I was
trying to prevent him 8) _____ stealing all my money - well, I couldn’t 9) _____ him to do that, could
I? - but he cut my hand off with his sword in the fight.’ ‘And how did you lose your eye?’ asked Ben.
‘I’d 10) _____ not say. It’s embarrassing.’ ‘Go on, tell me.’ ‘Well, I got a bit of sand in it,’ said Jake.
‘But you can’t lose your eye because you get a bit of sand in it!’ said Ben. ‘Usually that’s true, but it
was my first day with the hook!’

1) A punchline B laughter C comedy D humor

2) A laugh B joke C fun D comedian

3) A which B whose C where D who

4) A which B when C where D why

5) A managed B succeeded C allowed D failed

6) A that B whose C where D when

7) A happy B interested C fond D keen

8) A to B with C from D by

9) A accept B let C allow D agree

10) A prefer B like C rather D want

28
X. Read the text and choose the best answer A, B, C, or D.

ALL ABOUT BIKES

My father used to ride motorbikes when I was a young boy, and he took me for a 1) ______ every
now and then at goodness knows what speed. Looking back, it must have been extremely dangerous
and probably 2) ______.

My brother started riding one when he 3) ______ up. It was a classic Norton, and I used to
4) ______ him ride off and think that owning a bike 5) ______ that was the summit of human
existence.

My first bike was actually a Honda, which qualified as a moped though it looked as much like a
motorbike as it 6) ______ could. My father bought it for about $100 when I was 16, and waved me
off into the sunset. Now, when I try to imagine what it would be like to watch my own two boys go
off on a bike, I 7) ______ it must have been a pretty scary thing to do.

I had only one serious accident 8) ______ made me feel very embarrassed. You see, I was 9)
______ off. I saw a girl I knew at a bus-stop, and tried to 10) ______ her by taking a corner fast. Of
course I lost control, slid across the road and hit a wall. The worst part of it was having to 11) ______
that it didn’t 12) ______ . I got back on and just barely 13) ______ to get round the corner before I
screamed.

When I 14) ______ got to where I was going, my knee was so badly hurt that I couldn’t straighten
my leg and spent the next two weeks in a wheelchair. But my dad didn’t 15) ______ me
from riding the bike, which was pretty brave of him.

1) A drive B travel C journey D ride

2) A illegal B illegally C law D lawless
3) A born B brought C grew D raised
4) A watch B look C view D glance
5) A like B as C similar D alike
6) A likely B possibly C nearly D maybe
7) A recall B regard C realize D reconsider
8) A where B who C why D which
9) A showing B boasting C admiring D praising
10) A persuade B influence C appeal D impress
11) A react B play C act D pretend
12) A injure B hurt C pain D harm
13) A managed B capable C succeeded D able
14) A endlessly B lastly C finally D lately
15) A ban B forbid C prevent D prohibit

29
PART C: OPEN CLOZE

Read the texts below and think of the word which best fits each space. Use only one word in each
space.

I. WRITING A STORY

Where do you start if you want (1) ____________ write a successful story? Clearly, what you need
first of all is an idea (2) ____________ you can develop into a strong plot. But (3) where do ideas (3)
____________ this come from? The answer is ’anywhere and everywhere’. They may come from
something that (4) ____________ happened to you or to someone else, from a newspaper, an
interesting picture, or even a song. It’s a good idea to keep a notebook nearby (5) ____________ that
you can write down the details of any odd incidents that catch (6) ____________ imagination.

Another method of developing the story is to make use (7) ____________ the characters themselves.
Why (8) ____________ try putting three people you know well in a situation such as a wedding,
where feelings may be strong, and see (9) ____________ happens.(10) ____________, don’t make
the final characters too much like your aunt Jane or Uncle Jim or you may find yourself in real
trouble.

II. THE EXPORT OF ICE

Ice from the Rocky Mountains in the United States (1) ____________ being exported to countries on
the other side of the world. From Seattle (2) ____________ Tokyo may seem a long way to send ice,
but the idea is certainly not new. As early as 1833, Frederick Tudor, known (3) ____________ the ‘Ice
King’, sent a shipload of ice from America to India. About half of ice melted during the long journey,
but Tudor would (4) ____________ made a profit even if he had lost three quarters of his cargo.

In Britain in the 1840s, there was already a local commercial ice trade, but the import of ice, brought
about a revolution in the food business. The main port of entry for Norwegian ice was London, from
(5) ____________ the firm of Carlo Gatti, the largest dealers, distributed ice around the country. It
was Gatti (6) ____________ introduced the penny ice-cream in the 1850s. (7) ____________ then,
ice-cream had been a luxury, but the penny ice, served in Gatti’s cafes, became a Victorian fashion
and brought hundreds of Italian ice-cream sellers into the streets of the capital

III. A STRANGE EXPERIENCE

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When I was (1) ____________ school, we used to have a ‘Strange Experience’ night once a year. All
the kids dressed up as ghosts, aliens or monsters. We’d meet in the school dining room and the only
light (2) ____________ come from candles. There was music and everyone danced, but the best bit
came later, when (3) ____________ was a contest for the weirdest costume.

One year, something very strange happened. Everyone (4) ____________ enjoying themselves and
waiting for the contest to start. When it started, Casper The Friendly Ghost stood up first, and (5)
____________ all clapped. Then ET got up. All the costumes (6) ____________ fantastic. Finally, a
boy wearing a white suit stood up. The strange thing was that no one knew him. We didn’t (7)
____________ how he got into the party either, seeing as it was just for students. He (8)
____________ us to leave the school right away because we were in danger. Everyone believed him
and (9) ____________ outside. It was a good thing we (10) ____________ because just then there
was an earthquake and the school roof fell in. We never (11) ____________ him again!

IV. QUEBEC WINTER CARNIVAL

(1) ____________ its beginning in 1954, the Quebec Winter Carnival has grown to become
(2) ____________ world’s biggest winter festival. From the 1 st to the 17th of February.
(3) ____________ year, visitors come from all over the world to enjoy more (4) ____________ 300
events and activities on offer. One of the highlights is the famous canoe race on The St Lawrence
River. Thousands (5) ____________ people gather to watch and cheer as brave teams cross the river,
battling their way through ice floes and powerful currents. Other popular events (6) ____________
the Grand Viree, a dog sled race through the streets of Old Quebec, and the International Snow
Sculpture competition. Visitors (7) ____________ participate in many activities, including snowshoe
racing, ice skating, ice fishing and sleigh rides, or visit the Ice Castle, a medieval castle
(8) ____________ is built every year out of ice and snow. The whole city is transformed
(9) ____________ a magical winter fantasy, providing both adults (10) ____________ children with
the opportunity to rediscover the wonders of winter.

V. VISITORS FROM OUTER SPACE

The theory that the earth has been visited, perhaps even colonized, (1) _______ visitors from outer
space has long been a part of popular mythology. The popularity of the theory (2) ________ helped
considerably by Stanley Kubrick's cult movie, 2001: A Space Odyssey, which came out (3) _______
1968 and was instantly a great success. But the idea of visitors (4) _______ space had been very
much in the air over the previous twenty years, ever (5) _______ 1947 when a businessman called
Kenneth Arnold, (6) _______ was flying his private plane in Washington state, reported seeing nine
shining discs. He said they were moving (7) _______ an estimated speed of 1,000 miles (8)
_______ hour. This was widely reported in the press and aroused great interest. Soon sightings of
unidentified flying objects, or UFOs (9) _______ short, were being reported (10) _______ over the

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world. There were far (11) _______ many of these reports for them to be dismissed as pure fantasy.
In 1958, in a book entitled Secret Places of the Lion, George Hunt Williamson advanced the theory
(12) _______ visitors from space had arrived on earth 18 million years (13) _______ and had since
been devoting themselves to helping mankind evolve.

VI. THE HISTORY OF MONEY

There is no doubt that money, in the form that we know it today, (1) ________ what keeps modern
economic life functioning. Yet, in the course (2) ________ history, money, in whatever form, has
provided people (3) ________ the ability to buy and sell goods. Thousands of years ago,
civilizations (4) ________ to rely on the barter system as a way of exchanging goods. Within this
system a person had to exchange one thing for another. This meant that (5) ________ two parties
involved had to reach an agreement as to what they thought their products were worth. Items such
as wheat, tobacco and salt have all  (6) ________ used as money at one time or another.
It was not until much later that humans came up (7) ________ the idea of money in the form of
metal coins. So why (8) ________ the barter system come to an end? The answer is simple. Coins
were much easier to handle and carry around. (9) ________ then, the use of coins has become
widespread. It has made business simpler and has given countries an opportunity (10) ________
development by doing business with other countries further afield, which they (11) ________ never
done business with before. Later on, paper money became more common all over the world, as it
was easier to use. It (12) ________ not be long, however, before plastic cards take over completely,
replacing coins and bank notes.

VII. REVERSE GRAFFITI

When is cleaning walls a crime? When you are doing it to create art, obviously. A number of street
artists around the world have started expressing themselves through a practice known as reverse
graffiti. Inspired by the ‘clean me’ messages that you see written on the back of some trucks, they
find dirty surfaces and inscribe them with images or messages using cleaning brushes or pressure
hoses. Either way, it’s the same principle: the image (1) _______________ made by cleaning away
the dirt.(2) _______________ artist has their own individual style but all artists share a common aim:
to draw attention to the pollution in our cities. The UK’s Paul Curtis, better known as Moose,
operates around Leeds and London and has (3) _______________ commissioned by a number of
companies to make reverse graffiti advertisements.

Brazilian artist, Alexandre Orion, turned one of São Paulo’s transport tunnels into an amazing mural
(4) _______________ 2006 by scraping away the dirt. Made (5) _______________ of a series of
white skulls, the mural reminds drivers (6) _______________ the effect their pollution is having on

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the planet. ‘Every motorist sits in the comfort of their car, but they do not give any consideration to
the price their comfort has for the environment and consequently for themselves,’ says Orion.

The anti-pollution message of the reverse graffiti artists confuses city authorities
(7) _______________ the main argument against graffiti is that it spoils the appearance of both types
of property: public and private. This was what Leeds City Council said about Moose’s work: ‘Leeds
residents want to live in clean and attractive neighbourhoods. We view this kind of advertising (8)
_______________ environmental damage and will take strong action against any advertisers carrying
out such campaigns. ‘It seems (9) _______________ no action was taken against the
advertisers – no fines nor any other punishment – but Moose himself was ordered to ‘clean up his
act’. How was he supposed (10) _______________ do this: by making all property he had cleaned
dirty again?

VIII. AN ORDINARY MAN

Neil Armstrong, (1) _______________ most famous of the astronauts on Apollo 11, has been called
the ultimate professional. He (2) _______________ hired to do a job. He did the job and then he
went home and kept quiet about it. In 40 years, he gave two interviews. But how can the man who
first set foot on (3) _______________ Moon, a hero to millions of people, remain such a mystery?

People like Armstrong often develop their interests at a young age. He followed a career built on a
passion for flying that he developed in his childhood in the 1930s. He learnt to fly before he had
graduated from high school in Wapakoneta, Ohio. He then did a course in aerospace engineering (4)
_______________ Purdue University in Indiana, sponsored by the United States Navy, which meant
that Armstrong was obliged (5) _______________ serve as a naval pilot for three years. He saw
action almost immediately, flying 78 missions in the war in Korea.

He left the Navy in 1952 and two years later got a job with the Lewis Flight Propulsion Laboratory
where he flew experimental aircraft. He reached speeds of 6,615 kilometres an hour and altitudes of
over 200,000 feet. When he decided to become an astronaut is not clear. Certainly, it was not his
ambition to be famous. An extremely talented pilot, his aim was simply to push the boundaries (6)
_______________ flight.

He was selected for a space plane pilot training programme in 1960 but shortly after news began to
circulate that NASA was looking for astronauts for their Apollo programme. Incredibly excited, he
applied (7) ________________ the job and in 1962 was accepted. The rest, as they say, is history.

(8) _______________ the astronauts returned from the Apollo 11 Moon landing of July 1969,
Armstrong was a worldwide celebrity and could have done anything he wanted – TV shows, public
speaking. Instead, he became a teacher at the University of Cincinnati and at the weekend went
flying to get away (9) _______________ all the attention. He subsequently worked for two private
avionics firms (10) _______________ he retired in 2002. In 40 years he only gave two interviews.

33
Why? Certainly, he felt fortunate to have had the chance to fulfil his dream, but he did not feel any
more special than the thousands of people who worked on the Apollo space programme. He was just
the pilot.

PART D: WORD FORMATION

I. For questions 1-9, read the text and use the word given in capitals at the end of each line to form
a word that fits in the space in the same line.

Rapport: how to make friends and influence people.

If people have rapport with each other, they have a relationship in which
they have a special 1- ____________________ to understand each other’s ABLE
feelings or points of view. The 2- ____________________ question is this: INTEREST
how does one go about getting it if one does not have it? How do we create
a 3- ____________________ of trust and how can we develop this RELATE
4- ____________________ skill? How do you know when two people have NATURE
rapport? 5- ____________________ seems to flow when two people have COMMUNICATE
in rapport with each other; their bodies as well as their words match each
other. What we say can 6- ____________________ or destroy rapport, but CREATION
that is only seven percent of communication. Body language and tone of
voice are very 7- ____________________. You may have noticed that IMPORTANCE
people who have rapport tend to mirror and match each other in posture,
gesture, and eye contact. It is like a dance, where partners respond and
mirror each other’s 8- ___________________.The MOVE
9- ____________________ the rapport, the closer the match tends to be. DEEP
This skill seems to be inborn, for new-born babies move in rhythm with the
voices of the people around them.

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II.For questions 1-10, read the text and use the word given in capitals at the end of each line to form
a word that fits in the space in the same line.

EATING AND MUSIC

1- ____________________ have discovered that fast music can make you fat. RESEARCH
The quicker the tempo, the more you eat 2- ____________________ if the SPECIAL
dining room is painted in bright colors. Any tune witha
3-____________________ tempo, from polka to pop, is all that is needed. LIFE
Diners chew in time with the music, eating five forkfuls a minute. They
4- ____________________ feel the need for a second FREQUENCY
5-____________________ because, by the time the plate is empty, their HELP
stomachs have not had time to register that they are full. Without any
6- ____________________ accompaniment, however, the average diner MUSIC
swallows four 7- ____________________ of food a minute. The rate is cut to MOUTH
just three if a slow melody is playing in the 8- ____________________. BACK
Special occasions are another dangerous time. Chatting with family or friends
means people stay at the table longer and pay less 9- _______________ to the ATTEND
natural body 10-__________________ that the stomach is full. WARN

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III. For questions 1-11, read the text and use the word given in capitals at the end of each line to form
a word that fits in the space in the same line.

LET TV SWITCH ON YOUR BRAIN!

Are you hoping to become a famous 1-____________________ ? Maybe POLITICS

your talents are 2- ______________ or 3- ______________ ? Whatever ART/MUSIC
career you have in mind, you may be 4- _______________ to hear that SURPRISE
watching TV may make you more 5- __________________ ! Would you SUCCESS
like to know more? Well, 6-___________ gave two groups of students the PSYCHOLOGY
same intelligence test. Those who sat 7- ___________ in front of the LAZY
“tube” for half an hour before the test did better than those who didn’t.
Does that sound 8- ____________________ ? Well, it’s actually true. It CREDIBLE
seems that watching TV causes certain 9- ____________________ CHEMIST
changes in your brain – it warms your brain up, much as an athlete warms
up before a race. However, researchers warn that there are really no short
cuts to exam success. Without hard work and plenty of
10- ____________________ , all efforts will end in PREPARE
11- ____________________ . You don’t get anything; it seems, without FAIL
hard work.

36
IV. For questions 1-10, read the text and use the word given in capitals at the end of each line to
form a word that fits in the space in the same line.

MYSTERY SHOPPERS
Business 1- ____________________ who are worried about keeping their customers OWN
happy are now hiring people to come into their shops, restaurants, and offices
pretending to be customers. These ‘mystery shoppers’ are 2- ____________________ POSSIBLE
to detect because they are 3- ____________________ members of the general public USUAL
working on a part-time basis for market research companies. You won’t see them
doing anything 4- ____________________ like taking notes or talking to tape- SUSPECT
recorders, so company 5- ____________________ do not realize that they are being EMPLOY
evaluated. These shopping ‘spies’ are sent to collect 6- ____________________ on INFORM
the standard of service they receive including the 7- ____________________ and APPEAR
attitude of the staff, the cleanliness of the premises, and how long they had to wait to
be served. People in business are 8- ____________________ beginning to realize that FINAL
if they want to be 9- ____________________ , they should care as much about the SUCCESS
quality of their customer service as they do the quality of their
10- ____________________ . PRODUCE

V. For questions 1-10, read the text and use the word given in capitals at the end of each line to form
a word that fits in the space in the same line.
AN IDEAL JOB
Are you young, 1- __________, and hard working? Do you want to ski for free ENERGY
this winter? Would you like a 2- ___________ job that lets you earn some SEASON
money, gives you free 3- ___________, and is just five minutes away from the ACCOMMODATE
slopes? If your answer to all these questions is ‘yes’, then we would love to hear
from you. The Silver Mountain Ranch, near Aspen, Colorado, is looking for
4- __________ to work as waiters, kitchen staff, chambermaids, and front desk EMPLOY
staff from October to April. All our staff enjoy 5- ___________ benefits. They EXTEND
receive three free buffet-style meals each day as well as a 6- __________ room SPACE
at the ranch. Parties, barbecues, and other 7- __________ activities are ENJOY
organized for staff throughout the season. Our winter staff earn an average WEEK
8- __________ wage of $200 and receive a cash bonus upon 9- __________ SUCCESSFUL
completing their contract. Write or phone for an 10- __________ form today. APPLY
Send the form back to us by August 15 th along with two references, and you
could combine an excellent job with doing what you love.

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VI. For questions 1-10, read the text and use the word given in capitals at the end of each line to
form a word that fits in the space in the same line.

ADVENTURE HOLIDAYS
Adventure holidays are popular because they offer plenty of
1- _________________. They are great fun but can be very challenging. They EXCITE
give 2-________________ teenagers a chance to take part in many sporting ENERGY
3- _______________. If you take an adventure holiday, make sure that all of your ACTIVE
4-_______________ are experienced. If you discover that any of the staff are INSTRUCT
unqualified, do not use them. Check that the centre provides all the
5-_______________ equipment that you need. Helmets and torches, which may SAFE
seem 6- _______________ and pointless, can be the difference between life and NECESSARY
7- ________________ if there is an accident. Remember that although these DIE
activities sound very 8- ________________ in a book or on TV, they may be ENJOY
much less fun in 9- ________________. Bungee – jumping is an incredible REAL
experience, but also very 10- _______________. If you find at the last moment FRIGHTEN
that you are really terrified, then don’t do it!

VII. For questions 1-11, read the text and use the word given in capitals at the end of each line to
form a word that fits in the space in the same line.

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF ……

As director of a large holiday company, Chris has a great deal of
1- _____________. He starts the day at 8 a.m. every Monday with a meeting to RESPONSIBLE
discuss customer 2-____________. He and his team study the customer SATISFY
questionnaires they have received very 3-____________ and review the results CARE
together. They also discuss health and 4- _______________ issues. Chris spends SAFE
about half his time travelling round the world, checking how much
5- ________________ there is from other companies. He finds that meeting COMPETE
customers is a6- ________________ part of his job. He goes round all the VALUE
company’s hotels and listens 7- _________________to all his customers’ ATTENTIVE
suggestions. While he is listening, he notes down all the 8-________________ RECOMMEND
people make. Most people are 9-________________ satisfied with the company. HIGH
Looking back at his education, Chris values his time at university. He says that it
taught him 10- ________________ and confidence. All in all, he says, it was an INDEPENDENT
extremely 11- ________________ experience.

38
 MEMORY

PART E: WRITING

I. STORY WRITING

 You have decided to enter a short story competition. The rules of

the competition state that your story must end with the words:

“It was April 1st, that’s why I had decided to play a practical joke.”

“He had more pleasant dreams that night and woke up in the morning with no memory of what
had frightened him.”

 You have decided to enter a short story competition. The rules of the competition state
that your story must begin with the words:

“She looked at the sky and said "I'll think about that tomorrow. After all, tomorrow is another
day."
“After he had waited for a while, he went out and left the hospital. He walked back home in the
rain.”
Write between 200-250 words.

TIPS FOR WRITING A STORY

PLAN your story.

REVISE your story to correct mistakes.
Give your story a title.
Make sure you have at least 3 paragraphs.
Paragraph 1 – background information.
Paragraph 2- the main part of the story.
Paragraph 3 –what happened after the climax.
Don't change the words you are given at all.
Use past continuous for background information.
For example – It was raining heavily as we left the house….
Use past perfect before the main events of the story.
but Anne had kindly lent me her umbrella.
Use simple past for the main events.
There wasn't a single person on the street.

Include some direct speech.

39
Useful phrases

Direct speech:
Time phrases: Phrases for dramatic “…..,” said Fred.
It all began effect: “…..,” shouted Fred.
Shortly afterwards Suddenly
“…..,” screamed Fred.
Meanwhile All of a sudden
“…..,” whispered Fred
Not long afterwards Without warning
“…..,” announced Fred.
Sometime later Out of the blue “…..,” thought Fred.
Later that day
“…..”, cried Fred
A little later
“…..”, promised Fred
Finally
In the end
Eventually

Concluding stories:
When it was all over
Looking back now
In the end
After all that had happened

II. OPINION ESSAY WRITING

Are video games a good way to keep fit?

Nowadays, many teenagers have got video consoles at home and they often like playing active video
games. These are good for you for a number of reasons.

First of all, I think that active video games are a good way to keep fit. There are lots of different types
of exercise you can do such as basketball, water-skiing and dance and, what is more, you can play
them in the comfort of your home. In my opinion, these games are fun and interactive because you
can play them with friends and, if you play online, you do not need to be in the same place as your
friend to play.

In addition, you can play them whenever you want. Some people think that it is better to do exercise
outside in the fresh air. Although this is true, it is actually difficult to play outside when it is raining or
very hot so video games are a good alternative.

To sum up, I believe that video games are a fun and social way to keep fit. I think they are a good
option when you cannot play outside and they might encourage people to do more exercise.

I. Read the essay and tick the points which are mentioned in it.

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1. ___ There are a lot of different types of games.

2. ___ Video games are fun to play with your friends.

3. ___ Video games allow you to play many different sports.

4. ___ You can compete with people all over the world via the internet.

5. ___ Playing video games is the best way to stay physically fit and healthy.

6. ___ It's better to do exercise outside in the fresh air.

7. ___ You can play them even when the weather is bad.

8. ___ Playing sport is more intense exercise than playing video games.

II. Match the words and phrases that have the same meaning and write them below.

In addition, … First of all, … Nowadays, … In fact, …

In conclusion, … I believe that … I disagree that …

1. Today, …
2. Firstly, …
3. Also, …
4. I think that …
5. I don’t think that …
6. Actually, …
7. To sum up, …

Opinion Essay Topics

 Parents are the best teachers. Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Use specific
reasons and examples to support your answer.
 Television has destroyed communication among friends and family. Do you agree or disagree
with this statement? Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion.
 With the help of technology, students nowadays can learn more information and learn it
more quickly. Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Use specific reasons and
examples to support your answer.

USEFUL LINKS

http://www.examenglish.com/FCE/index.php

http://www.flo-joe.co.uk/fce/students/tests/tsindex.htm
http://etornauta.wordpress.com/category/word-formation/

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http://www.esl-lounge.com/student/first-certificate-word-formation.php
http://www.examenglish.com/FCE/fce_reading.htm
https://www.examenglish.com/PET/pet_listening_part1.htm

https://www.examenglish.com/FCE/fce_listening_part1.htm

https://www.ets.org/toefl_junior/prepare/standard_sample_questions/listening_comprehension

REFERENCES

Heinle & Heinle- CLOSE-UP B1 STUDENT’S BOOK

Heinle & Heinle- CLOSE-UP B1+ STUDENT’S BOOK

Longman - GET ON TRACK TO FCE LANGUAGE PRACTICE WORKBOOK

Longman - FAST TRACK TO FCE EXAM PRACTICE WORKBOOK

MACMILLAN INTERMEDIATE LANGUAGE PRACTICE

Express Publishing - CLICK ON 4

WISHES SB B2-1

MacMillan - LASER B1 STUDENTS’ BOOK

Oxford - STAR STUDENTS’ BOOK FCE

Oxford - KNOCK OUT STUDENTS’ BOOK FCE

Evans, V. O’Sullivan, N. (2002).Click on. Express Publishing. England (p51)

Healan, A. Gormley, K. (2012). Close-up B1+. Heinle (pp44-45)

Acklam, R. Crace, A. (2003) Going For Gold Upper Intermediate. Longman. England (p56)

MATRIX Intermediate Workbook

ASPIRE Upper Intermediate Student’s Book National Geographic

LASER B1+ WORKBOOK WITH KEY P.10-11 MACMILLAN

PRACTICE TESTS FOR THE REVISED FCE EXAMINATION 1 P. 94-95 MM PUBLICATIONS

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