Talleres para Exámenes
Talleres para Exámenes
Talleres para Exámenes
KATALOG ODABRANIH
TESTOVA IZ ENGLESKOG JEZIKA
ZA OSNOVNE ŠKOLE
-PRIPREMA ZA TAKMIČENJE-
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Contents
Present simple vs present continuous .................................................................................................... 3
Conditionals ........................................................................................................................................... 14
Nouns .................................................................................................................................................... 24
Articles ................................................................................................................................................... 26
Prepositions ........................................................................................................................................... 39
Word formation..................................................................................................................................... 42
Contrast ................................................................................................................................................. 47
Passive ................................................................................................................................................... 57
Vocabulary ............................................................................................................................................. 99
Grade 8
1) It's eight o'clock now. Anna ______________(eat) her breakfast .
2) The bus _________ now ____________(turn) left into Queens Street.
3) What _____ you _______ (do)? I_______________ (listen) to you.
4) Why ___________ (you smell) the milk? Is it sour?
5) My father __________ (make) excuses when I feel like going to the cinema.
6) Scientists ____________(work) on a vaccine against cancer these days.
7) We ____________(look for) new members for our football group before the new season starts.
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8) Why_________(you eat) only fruit and vegetables these days? Are you on a diet?
9) Anna ____________(cook) today. I think she _____________(make) something completely
new- curry.
10) I'd hate to live in London because it _______ (rain) all the time.
11) Time ____________(pass) quickly.
12) Plants __________ (grow) in soil.
13) People _________ (speak) English all over the world.
14) Snakes __________ (change) their skins regularly.
15) I____________ (learn) to dance this summer.
16) I___________(stay) with my family in Paris this holiday. I want to see a new place this year.
17) What sort of things ___________(your brother learn) this week?
18) We ____________(train) every day this week to prepare for our next match.
19) What ________________(you work) on at the moment?
20) I feel a bit lost. I've just finished a really good novel and now I__________(not read) anything.
21) Elisabeth _______ (currently write) a children's book titled ‘I Am the World.’
22) ____________still__________(you/work) in London?
23) She ________________________( constantly complain) about everything!
24) John _____________________(always ask) stupid questions! That’s really annoying.
25) My boss _____________________________ (continually criticise) me! I hate it.
26) She _________________ (always come) to the office late.
27) I_______________ (not meet) Katie tomorrow evening.
28) He _______________ (fly) to Rome in September
29) On Monday morning I___________(take) my grandma for a walk regularly.
30) ______you________ (leave) this morning?
31) What time___________(you/leave) tomorrow?
32) Today, an international company ___________(use) that building for a conference.
33) ________dogs ________ (bark) at strangers?
34) I ____________ (think) about visiting Jane this afternoon.
35) The police _______________ (still look) for fingerprints.
36) I ____________ (see) that the situation is out of control.
Grade 9
1) I_____________(learn) French because I need it for my new job.
2) Why _____ (you look) at me like that?
3) I have to go. Everybody ______________ (wait) for me.
4) I___________(not wear) a coat as it isn't cold.
5) What_______________(baby/do)? He ___________(tear up) a $5 note.
6) I bet I know what ______________(you/think ) about. It's that math test.
7) I______________(read) a play by Shakespeare.
8) He __________(teach) French and Greek this summer.
9) Well, for this holiday I__________ (save) more money.
10) People ______(get) more and more interested in animal communication these days.
11) This summer I___________(share) a room in the hotel with another person.
12) I_________(have) a lot of problems with my computer because of a programme I installed
recently.
13) I _____________(stay) with my brother because my flat is being painted.
14) My parents _____________ (look after) my dog while I'm away.
15) This week our tours ___________(take) a little longer.
16) Why______you_______(not write) your blog this week?
17) Why ________(you)___________(learn) a sign language now?
18) I speak German and French but Ann________________.
19) (he /always/wear) ______________a hat?
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20) Mr. and Mrs Maddox usually _______________ at the weekend. They buy everything they
need.
21) They____________ (work) hard to earn money for their school trip next month.
22) Because I__________________(fall in love with) with a girl who can't hear.
23) I_____________(revise) for my exams to graduate my college soon.
24) Scientists from different universities ______________(work) on Dr Doolittle project to
understand animal communication.
25) Fuel prices ____________(rise) constantly because of strong demand.
26) You _____(always) ______________(lose) the keys
27) I______________(mind) my own business.
28) Money ____________ on trees. (not grow)
29) The earth ____________ (travel) around the sun in approximately 365 days.
30) I_____________(get) married in June
31) We ___________(not/go) to the theatre tonight because we haven't got the tickets.
32) I______________(meet) my friends after work.
33) ______you______(fly) back on Saturday?
34) What ______________(you do) tonight? I_____________(meet) a designer.
35) What did she put in this food? It _________ (taste) awful.
Past simple
Grade 7
1) Jill _________ to Ottawa several times in 1990. (go)
2) Why ________ school yesterday? (not/be)
3) When she was younger she ________ English at primary school in Sarajevo. (teach)
4) From 2000 until 2003, he ________ in a small house near school. (live)
5) When I opened the door, I _______ my friend. (see)
6) We went to the cinema but we ___________ the film. ( not /enjoy)
7) I called Peter and then I _______ out. (go)
8) Peter ___________ the door and the angry policeman ________ the room. (open /
enter)
Grade 8
1) 1 A: I lived in Milan when I was younger. B: Really? How long _____you ____
there? (live)
2) 2 The picture was too low, so we _______ it a little. (raise)
3) 3 'What time ______Lisa_______?' 'About an hour ago.' (phone)
4) 4 Mozart ___________ more than 600 pieces of music. (write)
5) I _____________well last night and I ____________very tired in the morning. (not
sleep / be)
6)
7) We ___________ to have lunch, so we _________ to the cafe on the corner. (want
/go)
8) When I arrived home I ________ down on the sofa and _______ the TV. (sit / turn on)
9) When Frank ______ the policeman, he _____the pen back. (see / put)
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Grade 9
1) 'How______ the accident_______?' I don't know. I didn't see it.' (happen)
2) To make sure we ________ plenty of time to eat breakfast and get ready on the first
day of the school, I________ everybody up early – so early that it was still dark. (have
/ wake)
3) My grandmother, who died five years ago, never ______________ abroad. (go)
4) Have you seen my watch? I ___________it on my desk last night. (lay)
5) Harry _______ and we _______ him the news. (wake up / tell)
6) A few days ago dad _________ his car in front of a No Parking sign and ________
into the shop. When he _______ out ten minutes later the car was no longer there.
(park / rush / come)
7) When I _________ him I _______ the road to avoid the meeting. (see / cross)
8) The thieves _____out of the bank, ____ into their car and _____down the street.
(run/jump/drive)
Past continuous
Grade 7
1) At five o'clock yesterday afternoon, 75-year old Jack Menzis ________ the road on his
way home from shopping when a car knocked him over. (cross)
2) Which bus ______you______ for this morning? (wait)
3) Tom wasn't reading a book last night at 7 o'clock. He _________ the dog. (feed)
4) I ________ until midnight last night. (read)
5) While we ________, some other boys ________ football in the park. (study /play)
6) While John was playing the piano, his sister _________ her homework. (do)
7) While I _____ in one room, my older sister ______ a party in the other room.
(sleep/have)
8) What _____you _____ while I __________? (do /read)
9) While she was crossing the street, the car ________ her. (hit)
10) _______it _______ when you went out? (rain)
11) While I was working in the garden, I __________ my back. (hurt)
12) We ___________ our homework when Peter arrived. (do)
Grade 8
1) Sandy is watching television in the living room. At this time yesterday, she________
television. That's all she ever does! (watch)
2) ______it still ________when you came home? (snow)
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3) Who _____ you ______ to all evening? I tried to call you ten times and the line was
busy. (talk)
4) "What _____you ______between 5 and 7 yesterday afternoon? " (do)
" I _________ in the Red Lion Pub with a lot of other people." (sit)
5) What _____James______ while his wife _______ the house? (do / clean)
6) While I __________for my English test yesterday, my brother _________fun with his
friends. (study / have)
7) While the children _________ for school, their mother _________ sandwiches for
them. (get ready / make)
8) When I walked into the busy office, the secretary ________ on the phone with a
customer, several clerks _________ at their desks, and two managers ______ were
methods to customer service. (talk / work / discuss)
Sentences emphasising the distinction between the use of past simple and past
continuous. (Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verbs in
brackets)
9) Ena ________ while she ________ a book. (fall asleep / read)
10) Mr. Carlson___________ to another man when I __________ him today. (talk / see)
11) _____ you ________ television when I phoned you? (watch)
12) I __________ breakfast when the phone ______. (have / ring)
Grade 9
1) A minor earthquake occurred at 2:07 A.M on January 3. Most of the people in the
village ________ at the time and didn't even know it had occurred until the next
morning. (sleep)
2) Whenever she saw Bill, he ________ the same book. (write)
3) We arrived in Cannes at 2.30. The sun ________, people __________ on the beach
and big yachts __________ near the harbour. (shine /sunbath / sail)
4) ______the car really _______ strange noises all the way home? (make)
5) They _______ dinner, ________ their plans, and _______ a good time. (eat/ discuss/
have)
6) The weather was bad as I_________ in a queue for the cinema - It ______ heavily and
a cold wind_________ . (stand / rain / blow)
7) Sorry, I _________ to you while you _________. (not listen / talk)
8) _______you________ while Kevin ___________ the new policy? (listen / explain)
Sentences emphasising the distinction between the use of past simple and past
continuous. (Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verbs in
brackets)
9) Yesterday when I __________ home from school, a man _________ out on the road.
Luckily I _________ very fast, so I managed to stop in time and ________ him. (cycle
/ step / not go / hit)
10) Why did you disagree with me at the meeting? ______ you _______ to make me look
incompetent? (try)
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11) The Titanic _______ the Atlantic when it __________ an iceberg. (cross / strike)
12) When ______you ______ that the train ________ into the opposite direction? (realise /
go)
Grade 8
Complete the sentences with the correct present perfect simple form of the verbs in brackets
1) I __________ my leg and now I can’t walk. ( break )
2) We _________ the new sci-fi film. ( not see )
3) Sally and Emma __________ some money in the street. (find)
4) 4.Peter __________ his ankle and it is still bad. (injure)
5) _________ you ________ your driving test? ( pass )
6) I ________ her several times. ( meet )
7) Mark and Dave are good friends. They __________ each other for long time. (know)
8) _________ Lina _________ the new Spiderman film? ( see)
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9) I ___________ sky diving. (try)
10) Bill __________ a new house. (buy)
11) The bus _______ down. (break)
12) Susan __________ two pieces of cake. (eat)
13) I'm not hungry. I ____________ a whole steak. (eat)
14) The doctor _____________ a book about disease prevention. (write)
15) The florist _____________ the flowers for the wedding. They are beautiful. (arrange)
16) We __________________ your invitation! (receive)
17) Mike ___________ ill for a long time. (be)
18) That boy _____________face for sometime. (wash)
19) _________ you _________ my boyfriend Bob lately? (see)
20) Poor old Henry _________________ a holiday since the year before last. (have)
21) How many countries ________ you ______ to? (be)
22) I'm ready to go. ______ you _______ getting ready? (finish)
23) Susie isn't here. She __________ to the shops for some bread. (go)
24) You have a great suntan, Sally. ______ you _______ on holiday? (be)
Grade 9
1) My friend is a writer . He _________ many books. ( write )
2) Kathy travels a lot. She __________ many countries. ( visit)
3) I knew when I saw her that she was the most beautiful woman I __________ . ( ever see)
4) Jane is my friend. We __________ each other for years. ( know)
5) “ ___________ you ____________ your homework? “ “ Yes, I have. “ (do)
6) I __________ to Madrid three times. ( be )
7) His sister __________ in a theatre all her life and she enjoys it. ( play)
8) I’m ready now. I __________ my work. ( finish )
9) I____________3km to get to work. (ride)
10) We _______________ all of our chores. (finish)
11) I ___________the teacher that I will be absent next week. (tell)
12) She ___________many jobs. (have)
13) Why is the newspaper in the bin? _________ dad ________ it? (read)
14) They are here. They _____________ to Paris. (not/go)
15) She looks rather pale. _______ she _______ anything to eat today? (eat)
16) How _______ she _________ this fantastic cake? (make)
17) I____________ any free time for a month. (have)
18) Since last year, the streets _______________ more crowded. (become)
19) He __________ me for 7 years now, but he still _____________ me to marry him. (court/ask)
20) Jack __________to Switzerland for a holiday; I _____ never _______ there. (be/go)
21) How many of these questions ______you _______ to get right so far? (manage)
22) He's an awful driver. He ________ four accidents in the last three months. (have)
23) _______ you _______ your new job? (start)
24) Ouch! I ____________ my finger with that terrible knife again! (cut)
COMPLETE THE SENTENCES WITH THE APPROPRIATE TIME ADVERBIALS: just, yet, already,
since, for, ever, never!
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Grade 7
1) I've ________ had dinner.
2) Have Diane and Paul arrived ______?
3) They've __________ arrived.
4) I've been here _______ 1999.
Grade 8
1) You've __________ drunk three cups of coffee.
2) I've written ten letters ________ breakfast.
3) She hasn't bought a new hat _________ 9 months.
4) They've been very busy ________ the last week.
Grade 9
1) _________ you gave me your number I've phoned you 4 times and haven't found you at
home.
2) That boy hasn't washed his face ________ some time.
3) I have _______ seen that film.
4) Has she _______ worked in such a place?
Grade 8
Future time
Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verbs in brackets (will +
infinitive, going to for future, present simple)
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Grade 7
1) „ What would you like to drink? “ „ I ________( have ) some coffee, please.“
2) The weather is terrible. It __________ (rain) later.
3) Oh , I left the door open. I _______(go ) and shut it.
4) Where _______ you _______( live) next year?
5) If it is sunny on Sunday ,Susan _________(go) to the park.
6) ______ you ______( shut ) the door ,please?
7) We ____________________(have) dinner at a nice restaurant on Saturday.
8) It's her birthday next week. She ___________________ (have) a party.
9) Hurry up or we ________________ (miss) the bus.
10) The examination ____________(start) at 9.30. Don't be late.
11) What time ____________the film __________(begin)?
12) Next Thursday at 10.00 there _____________(be ) an English exam.
13) The train ____________(leave) at 11.45.
14) I think he __________ (be) late. He never comes on time.
15) I_____________ (work) harder next year. I promise.
Grade 8
Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verbs in brackets (will + infinitive, going
to for future, present simple)
1) „ Did you call Tim ?“ „ Oh no, I forgot. I ______(do) it now.“
2) Many scientists think that the Earth's temperature _________(rise) by 2-3 C in the next 50
years.
3) If you come to the club, you__________(have) a great time.
4) I suppose we __________(see) Sue at the party.
5) _______you _________( hold ) this box for a moment while I unpack it?
6) I hear Ann has won a lot of money. I wonder what ____ she _____________( do ) with it?
7) He ______________________(not/tell) how much he spent on his new computer. We'd be
shocked!
8) Julia looks very pale.She ____________________(faint).
9) The restaurant _____________(open) at 19.30 tonight.
10) Hurry up ! The shop _____________(close) in 15 minutes and we still haven't bought all the
food we neeed.
11) She __________(have ) a yoga class tomorrow morning.
12) The sale __________ (end ) next week.
13) Don't lift that. You ____________ (hurt) yourself.
14) Kelly's sister ______________ (have) a baby. It's due next month.
15) The plane _______________ (take off) at 5 p.m.
Grade 9
Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verbs in brackets (will + infinitive, going to for
future, present simple, will+be+ present participle, will+ perfect infinitive)
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1) Tom _______( not/ pass) his exam. He hasn't done any work for it.
2) They ________probably _____(be) a little late this evening.
3) I think I________(make ) some tea when this programme finishes.
4) „ Darling, I want to see the world!“ „ I __________( give ) you an atlas for next birthday.“
5) When you return home, you _______(notice) a lot of changes.
6) You ___________________(finish) your report by this time next week.
7) __________they _________________(arrive) by 5:00?
8) I________________________(not/complete) the project before the deadline. I just can't.
9) She hopes she _______________________(win) lots of prizes before she is twenty.
10) By 2025, Adam ____________________(sell) sports equipment for 10 years.
11) We ______________________(work) here for three years by the time visa needs to be
renewed.
12) Next year is Ted and Amy's 25th anniversary . They ______________(be ) married for 25 years.
13) We're late . I guess the film ______already __________________(start) by the time we get to
the theatre.
14) Lucy and Steve __________________(live ) here for four years next May.
15) I _________________(watch) TV when she arrives tonight.
16) By Christmas she _____________________(ski) like a pro.
17) She ________________________(sing ) a song for the audience. She was preparing for it the
whole week.
18) I ____________________(eat) with Jane this evening so I can tell her.
19) Unfortunately, sea levels __________still_____________________(rise) in 20 years.
20) He __________________________(come) to the meeting, I expect.
21) I guess you________________________(feel) thirsty after working in the sun.
22) Students ___________________________(learn) new lessons next year.
23) I can feel a cold breeze coming from the north. It _________________ (cold) tonight.
24) The race is almost over and he is at the front. He __________________ (win).
25) He _______________ (win) this race. He's won lots of races before.
26) I__________________ (leave) at ten. I start working at 6 a.m.
27) I____________________ (leave) at ten. I've arranged a taxi for that time.
28) This time next week I ___________________ (ski) down the mountain.
29) This bag is too heavy. I_________________ (hurt) my back.
Time clauses
Grade 8
Complete the sentences with the correct forms of the verbs in brackets
1) When you____________ (come) to the main road remember to stop and look before you
______________(cross).
2) I__________ (help) you with your homework as soon as I _________(do) my own.
3) He ________(know) it was her before she even ___________(appear) at the door.
4) After he________ (say) everything he had to, she ___________(leave) the room.
5) When I_________( see) all there is to see, I____________l ( buy) a small island and settle
down there.
Conditionals
1st conditional
Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verbs in brackets
Grade 7
1 If mum __________ (be) tired tonight, I ____________ (cook) dinner.
2 It _____________ (be) dangerous if you ______________ (not wear) a seatbelt.
3 She _______________ (ask) Karen to come if she __________ (see) her.
4 If he_____________ (eat) all that he _________ (be) ill.
5 I____________ (be) very angry if he ____________ (make) any more mistakes.
6 If he __________(be) late _________ (go) without him.
7 I ________________ (clean) the car if you ________________ (give) me ₤5.
8 If you __________________(not go) I _________________(call) the police.
9 They ___________________ (help) you if you _________________ ( not come) late.
10 Don’t’ worry. They ______________ (use) the stairs if the lift ____________ (not work).
Grade 8
1 Water ____________ (boil) if you ____________ (heat) it.
2 Plants _____________ (die) if you _____________ (not water) them.
3 Ice __________ (turn) to water if you _____________ (heat) it.
4 Sarah _____________ (not come) to the party if Tom ______________ (not call) her.
5 If the police ______________ (find) the car, you ____________ (have) to prove that it is
yours.
6 He ___________ (be) late for the train if he____________ (not start) at once.
7 We ____________ (have to) move upstairs if the river ____________(rise) any higher.
8 They ______________ (stay) at home if the weather ___________ (not be) good.
9 I _______________ (be) sad if my friends _____________ (not remember) my birthday.
Grade 9
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1 If I _________ (lend) you 10, when _____________ (you repay) me?
2 If you _____________ (want) to get fit, _____________ (follow) these instructions.
3 Why ______________ (you employ) him as a cashier if he can’t count?
4 Why ________________ (she not change) her job if she _____________ (hate) it?
5 Unless you _________ (be) more careful, you ___________ (have) an accident.
6 Tell him to ring me up if you ___________ (see) him.
7 If it _____________ (rain), ________________ (not open) the windows.
8 Unless I __________(have) a quiet room I _____________(not be able) to do any work.
9 Unless I ____________ (get) delayed, I _____________ (come) before six.
10 Unless he ___________ (sell) more he _________ (not get) much commission.
11 She _________ (not open) the door unless she___________ (know) who it is.
12 They _____________ (not mind) if we ____________ (be) a bit late this evening.
13 Everything ______________ (be) different if you ________ (be) in love with somebody.
14 If you ______________ (get) lots of homework, how _________________ (you feel)?
2nd conditional
Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verbs in brackets
Grade 8
1 If he ________ (work) more slowly he _____(not make) so many mistakes.
2 More tourists (come) to this country if it _________(have) a better climate.
3 I __________ (buy) shares in that company if I ________ (have) some money.
4 If he ______ (clean) his windscreen he______ ( be able to) see where he was going.
5 If I ___________(win) a big prize in a lottery I________ (give up) my job.
6 Mark __________ (can) tell you what this means if he _________(know) Greek.
7 If everybody (give) 1 we _________ (have) enough.
8 He might get fat if he __________ (stop) smoking.
9 If you _____ (paint) the walls white the room _______ (be) much brighter.
10 I ___________ (be) ruined if I ________ (buy) her everything she asked for.
Grade 9
1 I shouldn't drink that wine if I (be) you.
2 If you ________ (see) someone drowning what _______ (you do)?
3 If you ________ (drive) your car into the river _____ (you be able) to get out?
4 If he ________ (know) that it was dangerous he ______(not come).
5 Grandma ___________ (get) a dog if she _______________ (not live) in a small flat.
6 If I ___________ (be) sent to prison ____________ (you visit) me?
7 If someone _____ (give) you a helicopter what _____ (you do) with it?
8 If you ______ (not belong) to a union you couldn't get a job.
9 What _______ (you do) if you ______ (find) a burglar in your house?
10 I ____ (climb) over the wall if there _______ (not be) so much broken glass.
3rd conditional
Grade 9
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1 If he _________ (not be) so shy, I’m sure he __________ (get) the job.
2 If he _________ (know) the whole story he __________(not be) so angry.
3 If you _____ (not be) in such a hurry you _____(not put) sugar into the sauce instead of salt.
4 You _______ (not feel) so tired if you ________ (go) to bed earlier.
5 I ________ (not accept) the job if I _________ (know) how awful it is.
6 We ________ (not know) about the meeting if the chairman ________ (not tell) us.
7 I ____________ (take) a taxi if I __________ (realize) that it was such a long way.
8 You _________ (have) enough money for new trainers if you ________ (save) it.
9 They__________ (not invite) you to the party even if they _________ (see) you.
10 He ___________ (not cause) the accident if he ___________ (not fall) asleep while driving.
Reported speech
Grade 9
Change the following sentences into reported speech.
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4. „Will Tom help me?“, Sue asked her father.
Sue asked her father ___________________________________.
5. “Did you work at a factory 3 years ago?“, she asked her friend.
She asked her friend _________________________ at a factory 3 years ago.
6. “Have you seen my daughter?“, a woman is asking her neighbour.
A woman is asking her neighbour _________________________ her daughter.
7. “Can I go home now?“, he asked.
He wanted to know _____________________________________.
8. .“Does Julie drink tea?“
She asked me ________________________________.
Report the following requests, orders and advice. Start with the words given.
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The dentist advised her ____________________________________.
4. „Don't tell her what I said.“
He begged me ___________________________________.
5. „Don't move!“ the man with the gun said to us.
The man with the gun warned us ___________________.
6. „Write a text message,“ said Jessica.
Jessica told him ____________________________.
7. „Take off your shoes,“ she told us.
She told us ___________________________.
8. „Don't hurt yourselves, boys,“ she said.
She told the boys ______________________________.
Turn the following reported sentences into Direct speech. Write the people's exact words.
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8. Greg asked me where John came from.
'___________________________________?' Greg asked me.
be up to something; pull over; take off; keep up; learn something by heart; change one’s mind; grow
up; blow something out; climb down; interested in; join in; put off;
Grade 8
Complete the sentences with the following phrases:
get on with somebody; run into; get over something; look after somebody; bring about; shout at;
look up to somebody; take over; blow up; catch up with somebody; make something up; pass out;
run into somebody; involve in; cycle down; be famous for; look something up; put something out
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5) Even though he was injured during the race, he managed to _____________ the other
runners.
6) It was the craziest story ever. I think he _____________.
7) He _____________ when he saw the thief. Later he called the police.
8) You won't believe who I _____________ yesterday. We went for a cup of coffee to
_____________.
9) We cycled very fast _____________ the hill.
10) China is _____________ the Great Wall.
11) What does this word mean? –You can _____________ in a dictionary.
12) Firefighters _____________ fires and save people's lives.
13) We _______________ some friends yesterday. They were on their way back from school.
14) Don’t _________________ me. I can hear you very well.
15) On 5th November 1605, Guy Fawkes tried to _______ the Houses of Parliament in London.
16) He's __________ a number of research projects.
17) It can be very difficult to _______political change because people generally like things that
are familiar.
18) Up until midnight, one group of soldiers were keeping watch, then another group _________.
Grade 9
Complete the sentences with the following phrases:
come across something; to go off; charge with; sit in; complain about; be keen on something; give
something up; annoyed with; object to; take something up; take after somebody; look after
somebody
1) While cleaning the basement, I _____________ something I thought I had lost years ago.
2) The milk _____________ after only an hour in the scorching heat
3) We climbed up and sat _____________ the tree amongst the green leaves.
4) My friend is very _____________ playing the guitar. He plays it all day long.
5) My father _____________ golf because he hurt his back.
6) Is he bored now that he's retired? –Not at all, he's _____________ golf.
7) He _____________ his mother, both in appearance and character.
8) We _____________ Mary's cat while she is away on holiday.
9) Jack always __________________ something. He is never satisfied.
10) I really ___________ the way people park on the pavement.
11) The wrong man was arrested and ______________ murder.
12) I’m really _______________ you. Can’t you try doing something useful for a change?
Hypothetical situations
Grade 9
1. I wish it ____________ (not rain) yesterday so we could go out.
2. I wish I _____________ (be) at noon meeting but I had another appointment.
3. If only there ___________ (be) more job opportunities here. Young people wouldn't have to
leave the country.
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4. Mary feels homesick. She wishes she ________ (be) in her home with her parents now.
5. We have a flight to London on Tuesday but I'd rather __________ (go) on Monday.
6. I'd rather you _____________ (go) gome now.
7. I'd rather___________ (get) a taxi. I don't like buses.
8. They'd rather ___________ (play) with the baby than change its diaper.
9. My son wants to play in NBA but I'd rather he _____________ (concentrate) on studying.
10. I'm sorry I have to go. I wish I __________ (can) stay longer.
11. I really don't enjoy the party. I wish we ______________ (not come).
12. I really didn't enjoy the party. I wish we ______________ (not come).
Modal verbs
Grade 7
Complete the sentences with the correct form of either can, could, must, have to, may or
might (sometimes more than one answer is possible).
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24) You _____ wear jeans but you _________ wear trainers in that bar.
Complete the following sentences using the modals – have to, must or don't have to!
1. In England, most school children __________wear a uniform.
2. If you fail your test you ___________ reapply in a month's time.
3. I ___________ get up at five o’clock because I commute to work.
4. I _____________ get up at five o’clock because I want to go fishing.
5. They ____________ wear a suit since it is a formal party.
6. He ____________ wear a suit because he wants to look good.
7. I ___________ send a report to Head Office every week.
8. I _______________ listen to this. I'm leaving.
9. All the students _______________ obey the school rules.
10. In France, you _____________ drive on the right.
Grade 8
Complete the sentences with the correct form of either can, could, must, have to,
may or might (sometimes more than one answer is possible).
1. They ___________ be evacuated from the building last night. It was extremely dangerous to
leave them there.
2. Why _________ they __________ to leave our home as they could stay another two weeks?
3. When I was a student, we ____________________ wear the school uniforms at all, but we
___________ obey the school rules and dress politely.
4. This bag ____________ be yours, right?
5. There ____________ be a lot of tourists here! Look at the beaches! They're awesome!
6. We haven't walked far. You ________ be tired yet.
7. I _______lift this box - it's too heavy! Would you help me?
8. Lucy ____________make it to our meeting after all. She's stuck in traffic.
9. Gill _______play the piano. She has never studied it.
10. James _________speak Japanese when he lived in Japan, but he's forgotten most of it now.
11. I _________understand the chapter we had to read for homework. It was so difficult.
12. My grandmother _________use a computer until last month. Since then she's been taking
lessons at the library.
13. You ____ smoke anywhere on the train.
14. You ____ use my dictionary if you want.
15. You _______ sit here. The seat is free.
16. 5. This is the non-smoking section. You _________ smoke here.
17. You _______ cigarettes in British Columbia unless you are 19 years of age. That is the law.
18. You ___________smoke in a petrol station.
19. You _________ cheat if you are at the exam.
Complete the following sentences using the modals – have to, must or don't have to!
1) I ___________follow the procedures because I don’t want to be wrong.
Grade 9
Complete the sentences. Choose between: can, could, must, have to, may or might.
1. I've got one or two things to do, so I _____________ have time to come tonight.
2. He isn't here. He _____________________ forgotten about your party.
3. It's evening and my watch says it's half past two p.m. It ___________________ stopped.
4. I _________open this window! I think it's stuck.
5. Unfortunately, I really _________sing at all. No-one in my family is musical either...
6. John _______ play tennis really well. He's champion of his club.
7. She ________ won the gold medal if she hadn’t fallen three times.
8. Our son promised to clean his room, but it is still messy. He ______________ cleaned it.
9. Paul's class starts at 8:30. It's 8:45 and he's not here yet. He ___________ missed the bus.
10. ____ you turn the heating up a bit, please?
11. The rules say that you ___ only invite one guest to the club.
12. I'm afraid you ____ not take the exam until you pay for it.
Complete the sentences with the correct form of should and ought to and the correct form of the
verbs in brackets.
1. You _________ the words last night. Now it’s too late. ( learn )
2. Jack _________ to see us but he didn’t come. He was at the cinema. ( come )
3. The mailman _________ there an hour earlier but he wasn’t. ( be )
4. “It was a great party last night. You _______ come. Why didn’t you? “
5. I didn’t know you were married! You _______ me! ( tell )
6. That’s awful! You really ________ that, you know! ( do )
7. Paul ________ until the lights were green before he crossed the street. ( wait )
8. Susan _________, but she didn’t call up. ( phone)
9. People ________ on mobile phones during meetings. ( not talk)
10. Students __________ nervous about taking their exams last week but they weren’t. ( be )
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3. They told him to stay at school and wait for his father to pick him up.
Complete the following sentences using the modals – have to, must or don't have to!
1) Mr. Dickson is travelling abroad this summer, so he __________ get his passport
soon.
2) You ___________ stop smoking. It is very harmful.
3) I can't remember what I did with it. I ______________ be getting old.
4) Mrs. Parks can't see very well. She _____________wear glasses.
5) It's freezing outside, so we ____________ take a cab and not walk.
6) I can't understand why Sarah's late. She __________ be stuck in traffic.
7) I ___________ be at the meeting by 10:00. I will probably ____________ take a taxi
if I want to be on time.
8) You _____________ submit the additional application if it has not been completely
filled out.
9) You _____________ remember to pay the rent tomorrow. The landlord is very strict
about paying on time.
10) In a non-smoking area you _____________ smoke, but in a smoking area you
___________ smoke but you can if you want to.
Nouns
Grades 7, 8 and 9
What are the plural forms of the following groups of nouns?
1) Sheep – sky – half
2) Wife – penny – wolf
3) Ox – louse – self
4) Deer – life – berry
5) Scarf – church – stomach
6) Spoof – deer – daisy
7) Chief – leaf – elf
8) Avocado – louse – elf
9) Zero – ox – life
10) Medium – life – daisy
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11) Penny – sister-in-law – oasis
12) Analysis – fungus – elf
13) Crisis – deer – species
14) Thesis – tax – fungus
15) Zero – avocado – medium
16) Medium – zero – epoch
17) Stomach – aircraft – ox
18) Studio – hero – she-wolf
19) Domino – gas – tax
20) Chef – lorry – auto
21) Embargo – alga – zero
22) Larva – matr9 – avocado
23) Marsh – crisis – chef
24) Chief – basis – veto
25) Ray – marsh – blitz
26) Kangaroo – memo – hoof
27) Barracks – curriculum – cactus
28) Index – matrix – diagnosis
29) Axis – criterion - ski
30) Thesis –syllabus – passer-by
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9) Wood, wine, toe, city, humor
10) Rain, homework, metal, car, subject
11) Education, weather, bread, house, shop
12) Garbage, fear, evidence, owner, cousin
13) Progress, trouble, pasta, tomato, uncle, family
14) Tea, rice, anger, berry, vegetable
15) Humor, love, fear, grape, room, finger
16) Safety, research, olive, body, friend
17) Peace, milk, meat, teacher, sand, classroom
18) Music, art, furniture, spoon, can
19) Butter, power, fork, table, napkin
20) Happiness, gas, salt, plate, knife
21) Travel, work, potato, movie, park
22) Permission, democracy, hall, garage, chimney
Articles
(a/an/the/zero article)
Grade 7
1. He was born in ___ New York City.
2. We're going on vacation to _______ Czech Republic.
3. Have you been to ____ Italy?
4. Los Angeles is in the state of _____ California.
5. He lives in ____ United States.
6. _____ Republic of Ireland is in the European Union.
7. Have you ever been to ______ Brussels?
8. Q: What did you get for your birthday? A: I got ______ lots of good presents.
9. ____ Hague is in _____ Netherlands.
10. ____ Budapest is the capital of ____ Hungary.
11. There is a nice hotel on _____ Island Krk .
12. ____ most expensive house in ____ North America is in ____ USA.
13. There are two new students in my class, ____ boy and ____ girl.
14. _______ actors in this film are very talented.
15. We saw ___ film yesterday. ___ film was about _______explorer.
16. _____ space ship has landed on _____ Moon.
17. _____ Sun rises in _____ east.
18. I've got ______aunt in ________ Texas.
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19. There is ______restaurant near my house. _____ restaurant serves good food.
20. He is _____vegetarian; you won't get _______ meat at his house.
21. _____ Mr Smith is _____ old customer and ______ honest man.
22. There was ____knock on _____ door. I opened it and found ____ small dark man in
____ blue overcoat and ______ woollen cap.
23. There was ____woman there and the rest were _____ men.
24. Would you like to hear ____ story about __ Englishman, __ Irishman and __
Scotsman?
25. I have ____ headache.
26. ______Earth is our home and we have to protect it.
27. Why are you so white?’ ‘I’ve just seen ____ huge bear in the garden!’
28. ____cheetah can run faster than ______leopard.
Grade 8
1) There was ___ collision between ___ car and ___ cyclist at ____ crossroads near ___
my house early in ___ morning. ____cyclist was taken to ____ hospital.
2) I went to ____ school to talk to _____ headmistress.
3) He was sent to ____ prison for _____ s9 months for ____ shop-lifting. Do you go to .
_____prison to visit him?
4) Do you take ____ sugar in ____ coffee? I used to, but now I'm on ____ diet. I'm trying
to lose _____ weight.
5) My mum doesn't like ____ dogs. She thinks they are noisy.
6) This is _____ only cinema in this area.
7) _________________ Nile is a long river in ______ Africa.
8) We went snorkeling in ______ Adriatic Sea
9) ____ Nile is ____ longest river and ____ Lake Baikal is ____ deepest lake.
10) ____ Lake Titicaca is in _____ Peru.
11) ____ Thames, which flows through Oxford and London, is one of the longest rivers in
____ UK.
12) ____Danube is _____ beautiful river that flows through ____ Budapest.
13) ____ London stands on ____ Thames.
14) We visited ____ Lake Edward last month.
15) There are many poems about _______________Volga.
16) ______ Loch Ness is in ______ Scotland.
17) We didn’t have time to visit _____ Egyptian Museum of _____ Berlin.
18) ___ capital of ___ United Arab Emirates is ___ Abu Dhabi and not ___ Dubai.
19) _____ Moon goes around ____ Earth every 27 days.
20) I hate ______ violence.
21) They got married but ____ marriage wasn’t very successful.
22) Jim doesn’t go to _____ church.
23) I like _____ apples.
24) ___ Rio Grande separates ____ Mexico from ____ United States.
25) ___ Amazon starts from ______ Andes and enters ____ Atlantic Ocean at the equator.
26) ____ Indian Ocean has an amazing wildlife.
27) _____ Andes are very beautiful.
28) That's ___ last gas station for twenty miles.
29) I have ____ hour and _____ half for lunch.
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30) ‘I would have to say that _____ pandas are my favourite animal.’
Grade 9
1) They took a picture of me on ______ Franklin Square.
2) Have you ever visited _____ Tower of London?
3) ____ Central Park is in ____ New York.
4) ____ Big Ben is part of ____ Houses of Parliament.
5) They bought the tickets to ______ Genesis Cinema.
6) I work near ___ Trafalgar Square in ___ London.
7) _________________ London Eye is one of the most famous sights in the world.
8) In Britain ____ coffee is more expensive than _____ tea.
9) They told us about ____ Victoria Peak.
10) They closed down ____ Pergamon Museum.
11) We sailed across ____ Atlantic Ocean. It was _____ amazing journey.
12) We strolled down _____ Fillmore Street.
13) There was a big concert on _____ Syntagma Square.
14) He got lost in ____ Amaro Mountains in _____ Ethiopia five days ago.
15) _____ population of _____ USA is about 300 million people.
16) Sally went to _____ prison to visit her husband.
17) ____ French drink a lot of wine.
18) Columbus was one of ____ first people to cross _____ Atlantic.
19) I never listen to _____ radio. In fact, I don’t have ____ radio.
20) Before we landed, we saw ____ Statue of Liberty, _____ Ellis Island and ____ Empire
State Building.
21) ____ President of _____ USA visited _____ Hague last week to talk about war
criminals.
22) ____ Browns visited ____ Palace of Westminster and ____ St Paul’s Cathedral.
23) ____ man is mortal.
24) I have ____ uncle who lives in _____ home for _____ elderly.
25) Ms Parrot, ____ most famous lady detective of ____ twenty-first century was born in
____UK.
26) They went hiking in ____ Himalayas.
27) _____ Irish are known for their sense of humor.
28) I have always adored ___________ Contact Theatre in ____________ Manchester.
29) The pub is somewhere near _____________ Times Square.
30) _____ Nelson’s Column is very interesting.
31) _____ Empire State Building is very high.
32) Did you see ________ man that I told you about.
33) ________ meal that we ate yesterday was wonderful.
34) It was very interesting for us to see _____ Globe Theatre _____ London.
35) We didn’t have time to visit ____ Madame Tussauds.
36) _________ environment is a serious issue.
37) ______ climate change is a serious issue.
38) People are increasingly worried about ____health.
39) It costs fifty-five and . . . half pence and I've only got . . . fifty pence piece.
40) One of the biggest problems on the planet is _____ air pollution.
41) I know that animals need our help but so do _____ poor.
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Pronouns and determiners
Grade 7
Complete with each or every
Choose the correct words. In two sentences both answers are possible.
1 A: How much / many milk do you like in your tea?
B: A lot / lot of, please.
2 Lot / Lots of students study online nowadays.
3 Few/ A few people write letters anymore. Everyone uses email.
4 Can I have much / a little ice cream, please? It looks delicious!
5 Would you like a little /few milk?
6 Sorry, but we don’t have much / many information about train times.
7 You don’t earn much / little money as a teacher!
8 There isn't much / very little bread left. Can you buy some?
9 The post office is only a little/ a few meters from the cinema.
10 In my opinion, not many /few children learn to be polite anymore.
Fill in: all, some, all the, some of the, none of the
1) _________ children have to go to school in this country by law.
2) The classroom was empty because _______ the children had gone home.
3) We couldn't buy anything because_______ shops in the area were closed.
4) A: Where were you at 3 o'clock yesterday afternoon?
5) B: I was at home. I was at ________ home afternoon. I didn't go out until the evening.
6) We went to a restaurant last night. _______ food was lovely, but I didn't like the soup or the
dessert.
7) _________ people say that he's the best tennis player in the world, but a lot of others don't
agree.
8) It was a very boring day. __________ places that we visited were interesting.
9) He spent ________ morning reading the newspaper, so he didn't do any work.
10) _________ phones in the station worked, so I couldn't phone you.
11) We left the hotel at 9 o'clock in the morning, and we didn't go back to the hotel until the
evening. We walked round the city, looking at the sights, _______ day.
12) __________ jackets fitted me, so I didn't buy one.
13) __________ passengers must buy a ticket before they travel.
14) She was ill. She stayed in bed from Monday to Saturday. She didn't go to work ________
week.
15) The teacher asked a question, but __________ students knew the answer, so the teacher
told them.
16) ________course was difficult for me, but most of it was easy.
Grade 9
Complete the sentences with the words from the box –
Fill in: some, any, somewhere, anywhere, someone, anyone, something and anything - Grade 9
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Adjectives and adverbs
Complete the sentences with too or enough.
Grade 8
1) She doesn't live close _____ to walk to work.
2) Quite honestly, I thought the news was ______ good to be true.
3) I couldn’t make it to the school athletics team because I wasn’t fast _____
4) She's ______ young to go to discos.
5) They wouldn’t let Dave into the club because he didn’t look old _____ .
6) Is there ______ milk in your coffee?
7) Joe is _____ nice and has ______ beautiful children.
Grade 9
1) We've got _____ homework to do tonight. We have to write three essays and read five
chapters of the book.
2) I live in a quiet part of the town so there ______to do in the evening.
3) We have not got ______ on holiday at the moment.
4) Instead of drinking ____ much coffee, you should drink more milk.
5) My clothes are _____ loose now because I’ve taken off so much weight.
6) There were _______many questions to answer so I only did three.
Grade 8
1) Julia is ____ in politics. (interested/interesting)
2) That Dracula film was absolutely ______. (terrified/terrifying)
3) He works very hard. lt's not ______ that he's always tired. (surprised/surprising)
4) Fortunately the surgeon was able to perform a ______ operation. (life-saved/life-saving)
5) Do you easily get _______? (embarrassed/embarrasing)
Grade 9
1) She was ______ with rock climbing at a young age. (obsessed/obsessing)
2) Why do you always look so ______ ? Is your life so ________? (bored/boring) (bored/boring)
3) I was ______ with the film. I had expected it to be better. (disappointed/disappointing)
4) The kitchen hadn't been cleaned for ages. lt was really _______ . (disgusting/disgusted)
5) Ann doesn't enjoy her job any more. It's ______ because every day she does exactly the same
thing. (boring/bored)
Complete the sentences with so or such and any other words if necessary
Grade 9
1) I like Liz and joe. They're ____ nice people.
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2) The party was really great. lt was ______shame you could nit come.
3) I didn't realise you lived ______ long way from the city centre.
4) They've got_______ much money they don't know what to do with it.
5) lt was a great holiday. We had ______ good time.
6) I could not believe the news. lt was _____ shock.
7) I have to go. I didn't realise it was _____late.
8) lt was ______ boring movie that I fell asleep while I was watching it.
9) I think she works too hard. She looks _____ tired all the time.
10) The food at the hotel was ______ awful. I've never eaten _______ awful food.
11) It was ______ good music that I couldn’t stop dancing.
COMPARISON
Grade 7
1. The weather is getting ____________ (bad).
2. He is ______________ than he used to be last year. (fat)
3. The left shoe is ______________than the right one. (small)
4. The Atlantic is ______________ than the Arctic Ocean. (large)
5. He has _________ potential than anyone thought. (big)
6. I think studying mathematics is ___________ than learning English. (difficult)
7. This river is not long but it is ______________ one in the country. (wide)
8. Who is __________ actress in the theatre? (slim)
9. This is _______________ day in my life. (happy)
10. This building is ____________ in the street. (big)
11. The Pacific is ______________ ocean on the earth. (large)
12. Who is _______ singer in your country? (famous)
Grade 8
1. Our ___________ research should prove it. (far)
2. At home, mother is always ________ than father. (busy)
3. Andrew seems to be ________ than he was two months ago. (slim)
4. Her sister is _________ than Susan. (pretty)
5. She's a lot _________in the new job than she was in the previous one. (happy)
6. I think she is still ill. She looks even _______ than last week. (bad)
7. This is ______________ story I have ever heard. (sad)
8. In my opinion, Napoleon was ___________ commander in history. (great)
9. Yesterday was _______ day of the year. I almost froze to death walking home from
school! (cold)
10. That was ____________ movie I’ve ever seen. I almost walked out in the middle.
(bad)
11. Please give me your recipe. That is ___________________ cake I’ve ever eaten.
(delicious)
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12. Jerry is ____________ student in our class. He gets the top grades in every course.
(smart)
Grade 9
1. I got __________ than they'd promised. (much)
2. Your argumentation is _____________ than Robert's. (convincing)
3. Tom is ________________ than his elder brother. (impulsive)
4. Things are better organised now – we have _________problems than before. (few)
5. There are more accidents on this road because it's _______ than the others.
(narrow)
6. Which of the three supermarkets do you think has ________ range of
products? (wide)
7. I chose this car as my favourite because it's _______all the ones I have driven.
(fast)
8. Bob told ______________________ story last night. I couldn’t stop laughing. (funny)
9. Marie is __________________ person I know. She has won the lottery four times!
(lucky)
10. That is __________________ painting in the art gallery. It’s worth a million dollars.
(valuable)
11. I was afraid to turn off the lights last night. That was _________ show I’ve ever
watched. (scary)
Grade 8
1. She is _______________ her brother. She is slimmer.
a) as fat as
b) not as fat as
c) fat as
d) fatter than
2. The film is ________________ I expected. I really enjoyed it.
a) not as interesting as
b) as interesting as
c) interesting
d) more interesting
4. His DVD player was ________________ mine. We paid the same price.
a) expensive
b) more expensive
c) not cheap as
d) as cheap as
Grade 9
1. "Narnia's Chronicles" are ________Harry Potter books yet but they are __________.
a) not as famous as/ as interesting
b) as famous as/ as interesting as
c) more famous/ not as interesting
d) famous/ not interesting
2. The weather this summer is ________ last year. It hasn't stopped raining for weeks.
a) as bad as
b) worst
c) worse
d) the worst
3. Monkeys aren't ___________ lions
a) as dangerous as
b) not as dangerous as
c) more dangerous
d) less dangerous
4. I'm healthier than you are. You aren't ________ I am.
a) as healthier
b) as healthy as
c) healthier
d) the healthiest
5. Rory hasn't grown ________ Tommy yet.
a) not as tall as
b) as tall as
c) taller
d) the tallest
6. It's _____________ I thought it would be, actually.
a) not as heavy as
b) heavier
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c) as heavy
d) the heaviest
There is only one correct place for each time expression given in the
bracket.
Grade 8
1) _1_ It's _2_ very quiet. There aren't _3_ many people here _4_ . (today)
2) She _1_ is _2_ worried _3_ about _4_ school. (always)
3) He _1_ works _2_ in _3_ Hollywood _4_ . (usually)
4) I _1_ have _2_ coffee for breakfast _3_ in the kitchen _4_. (never)
5) What _1_ time _2_ are you meeting _3_ Pete _4_ ? (tomorrow)
6) _1_ They didn't play _2_ very well _3_ so they lost the match _4_. (yesterday)
7) That's probably _1_ the worst _2_ film I've_3_ seen _4_. (ever)
8) Europeans saw potatoes _1_ for the first time _2_ about five hundred _3_ years _4_. (ago)
Grade 9
1) _1_ , a lot of computers _2_ are made _3_ in Korea _4_ . (nowadays)
2) The film _1_ has _2_ started _3_ . We’ve missed the first five minutes _4_ . (already)
3) We _1_ haven't got a lot of money _2_ , so _3_ we may not go on holiday _4_ . (next year)
4) _1_ We have played _2_ soccer _3_ four hours _4_ . (for)
5) _1_ The bridge collapsed _2_ the truck _3_ was crossing _4_ . (while)
6) _1_ I left university, _2_ I worked in a bank and _3_ then I moved to an insurance company _4_ .
(after)
7) _1_ If you haven't _2_ visited our new website_3_ , go to _4_ . (yet)
8) _1_ 'Action Tours' is a small, friendly company and _2_ we have provided many different
specialist holidays for people _3_ we started_4_ . (since)
Grade 7
1) The arrow flew wide/ widely of the target.
2) Computers are wide/widely used in schools nowadays.
3) Students can enter the museum free/freely on Saturdays.
4) He free/freely admitted to being a liar.
5) I like sitting near/nearly the fire.
6) Be careful! You near/ nearly crashed into that cyclist.
7) She left too late/lately to catch the train.
8) Have you seen any good films late/lately.
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9) The death of his friend affected him deep/deeply.
10) To find water, they had to dig deep/deeply into the ground.
11) I think he's a pretty/prettily good singer, actually.
12) The little girl laughed pretty/prettily at the sight of the puppy.
13) He tries very hard/hardly to make her happy.
14) She used to be a great musician, but she hard/hardly plays at all now.
15) The eagle was flying high/highly above the mountains.
16) My father is a high/highly respected surgeon.
Grade 8
Can you be there at 5 o'clock ........?
a) sharply b) sharp c) punctualy d) punctual
Grade 9
We have got ........ any rice left.
a) hardly b) hard c) lately d) late
You have to fill ......... so that each row and column contains the numbers 1 to 9.
a) the squares carefully b) careful the squares c) carefully the squares
Dogs rely on their noses as they can smell .......... If that is true, why does dog food smell so ..........
a) extremely good/terrible b) good/terrible c) extremely/terriblly d) extremely
well/terrible
Relative clauses
Fill in the correct relative pronoun.
Grade 8
1) 1.Do you know _________ that man standing near Tom is?
2) 2.That boy, ___________ father is a footballer, is very good at sports.
3) This is the street_________my friend lives.
4) 4.They are the policemen __________ caught the thief.
5) Here are the letters _________ arrived this morning.
6) I bought the coat __________ was in the shop window.
7) 7.I sent all the letters _________ you gave me.
Grade 9
1) 1.The area , __________ has very high unemployment , is in the north of the country.
2) 2.If you can't find the hotel __________ I stayed last weekend, I can tell you __________to
ask.
3) The people ___________we sat next to owned a farm in Virginia years ago.
4) The president of the company ,______________ I really admire, is visiting us next week.
5) He's a famous architect ____________designs won an international award last year.
6) 6.My cousin works for a company _________ sells laptops.
7) They expect his decision soon, ________ should help us solve the problem.
Prepositions
Grade 7
39
FILL IN THE CORRECT PREPOSITIONS
Until – Against – Out of – During – Of – To – About – Around – At - Through – Over – By – In
Grade 8
1. FILL IN THE CORRECT PREPOSITIONS
1) The travel agency sells many different types of trips. It all depends _______ what you want.
2) It's ________ time you told him the truth.
3) The soccer player was ejected because he had done something that was
a. _________________ the rules.
4) The river Rhine flows _______ the North Sea.
5) Why are you always late, Mark? Can't you ever arrive ______ time?
6) The animal hospital? It's somewhere ________ that big blue building.
7) Being a nurse is hard work, especially if you're _______ call all the time.
8) She is, ________ a doubt, the best student in the class.
9) Don’t be impatient _____ us. We are trying!
10) This is the book I was telling you ________ .
11) I'm very grateful ______ Mr. Smith for his timely help.
12) They are ______ the best hockey players in the world.
13) I get paid ______ the end of the month.
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14) I was talking so much _____ lunch that my food went cold.
15) Almost all politicians were involved _____ the scandal.
16) You should be ashamed _____ yourself _____ coming in with dirty boots.
Grade 9
1. FILL IN THE CORRECT PREPOSITIONS
Into
1) Unemployment has just risen again; this time _____ 0.5%. It's now 5.5%.
2) I've decided to go _____ business with my friend. We're going to open a small toy shop.
3) The police have caught the suspected thief and he's _____ arrest.
4) Another way of saying ' old - fashioned ' is ' ____ the times '.
5) We left our luggage ___ the station.
6) He has copied this letter word _____ word.
7) There is an exception _____ every rule.
8) They look just like real thing ______ they are made of plastic.
9) Frank cared _______ his clothes more than anything else.
10) He learnt how to program the computer _____ just a matter of weeks.
11) He stood ______ all his friends in the room and felt very happy.
12) My cousin is married _____ a famous American.
13) Ten people were killed when a bus collided _____ a car.
14) I am responsible ______ training the new recruits.
15) He graduated _____ Oxford university.
Correlative conjunctions
Grade 9
Complete the sentences. Choose between both…and, either…or, and neither…nor
1) ______ you ______ I are supposed to be at the meeting tomorrow at 13.00.
2) ______ rugby _____ football are popular in France.
3) ___ English ___ Welsh are spoken in Wales.
4) I can _____ speak ____ write Japanese.
5) We can go to ________ Greece ___ Spain for our holiday. You choose!
6) It's my final offer - you can _____ take it ___ leave it.
7) I ______ know ____ care what happened to him
8) She _____ wants to play ___ not.
9) Don't expect to have _____ money ___ happiness.
10) At night _____ the cats ___ dogs wake us up. However, we can never sleep well.
11) You can buy _____ the blue sweater ____ the green one. But, you can't have both!
41
12) The hotel is ______ spacious ____ comfortable.
13) _____ the television ____ the DVD player work well.
14) _____ the manager ____ his assistants are here today.
15) _______ she is coming ____ I will never speak to her again!
16) We had to cancel everything because _______ Stan _____ Jacob showed up on time for the
game.
17) I realised that _______ the cousins ____ Sharon told the truth! That's embarrassing!
18) Could you bring me my purse, please? I left it _____ on the table ___ in the drawer.
19) She is _____ my wife ___my friend.
20) This job is _____ interesting _____ challenging.
21) After hearing that bad decision, Julia was ______ satisfied ____ relieved.
22) The book we read last week was ______ interesting _____ the one I would recommend. A
total waste of time!
23) You will meet _____my husband ____ his parents tonight.
24) This experience has been _____ amazing ____ useful for me.
25) _____ my kids ____ their teachers visited the capital of England!
26) She is ______ French ___ Spanish.
27) You can _______write ___ phone to order a copy. You can't do both.
28) ________ the subject ______ the teacher impressed me much! I was bored!
29) We could _________ be silent _____ pretend we do not care! Because we do!
30) He _____ could not come ____ didn't want to.
Word formation
Grade 9
Complete the sentences with the correct form of the words in capitals.
1. Apart from being , our trip to the space museum was also very
enjoyable. EDUCATION
2. This is Jake Houston, who works for an company in Boston. INSURE
6. It’s best to take your umbrella; the weather is quite these days. CHANGE
7. Unless it rains these next few months, the country will suffer from water .
SHORT
42
8. We stayed in a little village in the western part of the country. PICTURE
1. He had to pay a fine after the police caught him driving recklessly in a _____________
area. RESIDENT
2. I wouldn’t recommend that hotel, as it is located on the outskirts of the city, which is
very __________________. CONVENIENT
3. Sadly, his _____________________ about the tropical storm were confirmed. PREDICT
4. Mrs Brown has very high ________________of her daughter, Jenny, and was disappointed when she
didn’t win the competition. EXPECT
5. Fried bananas and roast chicken are the __________________ of this restaurant. SPECIAL
6. The campaign aimed at increasing people’s _________ of the dangers of smoking. AWARE
7. Because of his _______________ to medical research, the scientist was awarded a prize. CONTRIBUTE
8. This is an important________________. Do not leave your belongings unattended. ANNOUNCE
3
Last week I made a (1) _______________________ to my cousin Alex, offering to SUGGEST
take him to an (2) _________________________ park. He was very excited because it AMUSE
was his (3) ________________________ place. However, from the moment I picked FAVOUR
him up, he was very (4) _______________________ , which surprised me since NOISE
his behaviour was (5) _________________________ very different. At one point, NORMAL
the manager, who was very (7) _________________________ found him an hour HELP
later amongst a crowd. Apparently, Alex had seen a famous basketball player and
was so (9) ________________________ at him that we left. It was then that I made ANGER
PEACE
4
CHAMPION
1 The top model was ______________ dressed in an elegant evening gown. SPONSOR
2 My street is _________________ because it’s far from any main roads. HOME
3 Our football team won the ____________ at the end of the season and received COLOUR
______________ from a large company. CARE
4There are thousands of _____________people sleeping in the streets.
HELP
43
SLEEP
PARTNER
SUCCESS
POWER
5 I bought a ____________ dress but its colours faded after I washed it.
6 I was fined because I was driving _______________
7The directions you gave us were rather _______________, as we still got lost.
8 I am feeling quite _______________ because I didn’t get enough sleep last night.
9 I got into a business ______________with my cousin but it ended up
being _________________
10 The musical performance was so ____________ that the audience gave the orchestra a
standing ovation.
5
Arthritis is a general term for aches and pains in the body's joints. Most types of arthritis involve
the deterioration of cartilage, which is an (1)___________ (ESSENCE) material covering the
ends of the bones in the joint. When the (2)____________ (HEALTH) cartilage wears out, it
becomes rough and this causes pain when the joint moves. This condition is more common
among the elderly, but some people can be sufferers from (3)___________________ (CHILD)
Apart from (4)___________________ (TRADITION) painkillers, little or no treatment is available.
However, (5)____________________ (AMBITION) scientists have designed (6)_______________
(ARTIFICE) joints that can replace the (7)_______________ (PAIN) worn-out ones. These
new joints could prove very (8)________________ (BENEFIT) to arthritis sufferers. Although some
believe that joint replacement may be (9)________________ (COST) numerous patients
are (10) ________________ (ANXIOUS) waiting for this medical breakthrough.
6 SKATEBOARDING
In the early 1960s, a new craze swept through the coastal cities of the United States. Being
(1)______________ ( PHYSICS) fit, the surfers wanted some fun while the surf was low. That's when
an (2)______________(ENERGY) new pastime called skateboarding was born. The skateboard was
(3)______________ (ORIGIN) developed by attaching a plank of wood to roller-skates.
However, skateboarding has undergone (4)_____________ (DRAMA) changes since then.
(5)______________ (PROFESSION) skateboarders now use plastic and fibreglass, which make the
boards more durable and flexible. Nowadays, skateboarders spend (6)______________ (END) hours
performing tricks and stunts many of which are (7) ________________ (DANGER), so experts
(8)_______________ (ADVICE) skateboarders to wear protective gear such as helmets and elbow and
knee pads, especially if they are not (9)________________ (SKILL). A skateboarder goes through
many falls before becoming proficient, so it is (10)_____________ (SENSE) to take precautions
against accidents.
44
7 HOMEWORK
Homework is a part of every student's school life. (1)_______________ (FORTUNATE), many of them
(2)_______________ (APPROVE) of the amount of homework they are given, and find it particularly
(3)_____________ (FAIR) when they have to study a lot before a test. This makes them feel
(4)__________ (ANXIETY) and some even become physically sick when under pressure. Others
sometimes find it (5)________________ (POSSIBILITY) to complete their homework, which makes
teachers believe it's an act of (6)_______________ (OBEDIENCE) On the other hand, teachers
consider homework (7)_______________ (BENEFIT) They believe students should have a daily
schedule to avoid getting (8)__________________ (ORGANIZE) and having to hand in
(9)_________________ (COMPLETE) homework. Moreover, teachers think (10)_____________
(ADEQUATE) amounts of homework put students' future at risk.
8 AIR CONDITIONERS
The American inventor W.H. Carrier developed the first air-conditioning unit in 1902. Since then, the
(1)___________ (POPULAR) of air-conditioners has increased (2)______________ (RAPID) Given
people’s (3)______________ (ABLE) to function in the heat, air-conditioners provide them with a
feeling of comfort. That is why the (4)___________ (LIKELY) of even more people installing air-
conditioners for (5) ___________ (PERSON) use in the (6) ____________ (PRIVATE) of their own
home will increase further.
But what do they do? Their aim is to (7)____________ (STABLE) the temperature in a room. This is
accomplished by the (8)_____________ (PRESENCE) of a fan, which also removes dust and odours
from the air and controls the humidity. The (9)____________ (EFFICIENT) of an air-conditioner
depends on the power of its fan. Nowadays there is a great (10)____________ of air-conditioners on
the market which are bound to cover each person's needs.
9 HURRICANE
A hurricane is a (1)____________ (DESTROY) storm which is always accompanied by torrential rain
and winds that can reach speeds of up to 300 kilometres per hour. Hurricanes form over warm
expanses of water and increase in (2)_______________ (STRONG) as they make their way towards
the mainland. (3)_____________ (COAST) areas are usually hit the hardest, but the
(4)_____________ (INTENSE) of the storm decreases as it continues inland.
Hurricanes can cause (5)______________ (EXTEND) damage. They uproot trees, destroy
houses and (6)_____________ (CONSTRUCT) sites and even lift up boats right out of the water. So, it
is crucial that meteorologists keep constant (7)______________ (OBSERVE) of any suspicious
weather formations which may evolve into hurricanes. If a hurricane is approaching inhabited areas,
the authorities issue (8)____________ (WARN) and give people (9)______________ (INSTRUCT) as
how to prepare for its (10) ________________ (ARRIVE) and for their evacuation.
10 Cycling
I have been a keen (1) ....... for about nine years. When I began cycling, CYCLE
I found the flat roads easy but the hills almost (2) ....... Surprisingly, POSSIBLE
now it’s the opposite. A long flat ride can be both dull and (3) ........ EXHAUST
downhill. Years ago, going uphill left me (4)....... Now I have learned BREATH
When I set off, I’m full of energy and the first hundred metres are
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(5) ........... the next couple of kilometres a bit tiring, but on the whole the MARVEL
Cycling is (7) .......... any other forms of exercise I have tried; it is never LIKE
a chore but always a (8) ........... The physical benefits are obvious but PLEASE
the mental benefits are (9) ........ important; when you are travelling EQUAL
calmly at a sensible speed, you breathe fresh air, have time to think and can relax.
46
Contrast
Grade 9
Complete the sentences. Choose between: in spite of, however, while, although/even though
Use of English
Grade 9
1
47
I was on my way home (1) it happened. (2) I was walking, I heard someone running
behind me. (3) I knew it, I was on the ground, and my bag wasn’t there! A man, (4)
.was there helped me to get up. (5) , he left me and ran after the man with my bag. I waited
there (6) he came back with my bag. I (7) believe he got it back for me. What a hero!
One thing is certain, I (8) stop walking home alone!
2 Choose a, b or c.
Our band has been trying hard for a long time (1) known. We
(2) in different small clubs and have tried to get in touch with various
companies. We keep (3) that someone (4) listen to our
work and decide (5) us. Yesterday, we (6) an
unexpected phone call. It was the manager of a large record company. He said he
(7) of us and wanted to see us perform live. (8) an
opportunity!
48
Indeed, playing some of the more complicated games may help people of all ages to (6)
__________certain skills. Researchers claim that this is because the games (7) _______the
brain work harder in certain ways, like (8) ____________sounds and movements quickly and
identifying what they are. The fact that people play the games repeatedly, (9) __________
that they get a lot of practice in these skills which are therefore (10) ________to become
highly developed. Social skills may benefit too. Researchers in Chicago think that fans of
first-person shooter games (11) ______Counterstrike are better than non-players when it (12)
___________to building trust and co-operation, and that this (13) __________ them to
make good friendships and become strong members of their communities. So rather than
(14) ____________ up computer games, perhaps young people (15) ________to spend more
time on them?
1 A make B do C do D take
2 A event B instance C case D fact
3 A fall B get C keep D have
4 A ability B skill C facility D technique
5 A as well as B because of C apart from D what's more
6 A head B mind C brain D memory
7 A good B capable C keen D interested
8 A joined B caught C stood D grew
9 A confident B obvious C sure D positive
10 A regarding B relating C recognising D reflecting
11 A admirable B desired C favourite D selected
12 A understanding B thought C idea D explanation
13 A passes B gains C works D comes
14 A Although B Despite c However D Since
15 A qualification B outcome c ambition D fortune
6
My first (1)__________ was as a sales (2)_____________ at a large department store. I wanted
to work part-time, because I was still studying (3) ___________university and I was only
(4)__________ to work a few nights a week. I came (5)_________ the advertisement in the local
newspaper. I remember the interview as though (6)_________were yesterday. The personnel manager
50
sat behind a large desk. He asked me various questions which surprised me because all I wanted was
to work in sales. An hour later, I was told that I had got the job and was given a contract to go
(7)__________. I was to be trained for ten days before I took my post. Also, as a member of
(8)__________. I was entitled to some benefits, including discounts. When I eventually started, I was
responsible (9)____________the toy section. I really enjoyed it there and I loved demonstrating the
different toys. I was surprised at how friendly my (10)_________were, too. They made working there
fun even when we had to (11) __________ customers who (12) _________on our nerves. On the
whole, working there was a great experience which I will never forget.
3 A in B on C at D for
6 A it BI C that D there
9 A of B at C with D for
51
1 A recognises B reminds C recalls D memorises
2 A which B when C where D who
3 A onlookers' B viewers’ C audience's D spectators’
4 A life B ages C a while D time
5 A where B when C which D whenever
6 A images B visions C scenes D sights
7 A attempts B efforts C trials D tries
8 A by B in C at D with
9 A When B After C While D Until
10 A glancing B noticing C staring D watching
11 A in B at C on D for
12 A view B vision C sight D image
10 A TAXI EXPERIENCE
As a journalist, I'm asked to travel around the globe to all sorts of (1)___________countries.
Over the years, I’ve used different means of transport. Of course, for long (2)_______ flying
is the fastest and safest way to (3)__________a far-off destination.
Unfortunately, I’m not a very organised traveller and despite my travel agent's best efforts,
(4)__________ always goes wrong. Last week, while I was heading for the airport, I realised
I had left my passport at home. Obviously, I had to go back so I asked the taxi driver to turn
around and take me home. In the meantime, I crossed my fingers and hoped that I wouldn’t
miss my (5)____________.
All the (6)__________ home, the driver was speeding in and out of traffic. He got even more
carried (7)___________when he got on the motorway, (8)________ at speeds of up to 150
kilometres per hour.
By the time we arrived home, I was (9)_________ a state of shock and it took me a while to
(10)_________ my breath. So, before driving off again, I decided to pay him
(11)__________extra, so that he would go slower as we were bound (12)_________ have an
accident.
53
2 A travels B excursions C tours D trips
3 A arrive B reach C get D approach
4 A anything B something C everything D nothing
5 A flight B cruise C trip D journey
6 A road B way C route D direction
7 A away B on C out D along
8 A moving B travelling C transferring D transporting
9 A at B under C on D in
10 A hold B catch C keep D find
11 A many B a little C a few D some
12 A to B for C in D of
11 PAST MEMORIES
I was raised on a farm in a remote village in the 1950s. The winter months were endless and
everything was covered in snow. I was always (1) for the warmer weather to come.
When spring (2)_______________, everything came alive - flowers would bloom and the
animals would come out of hibernation. I'd follow the bear tracks and search for them. Once,
however, I (3)______________ an angry mother bear who saw me (4) _______________ a
threat. (5)_____________ the sight of the bear I did what my father had told me. I stood still
until she stopped growling and walked away. The trick was effective, but looking back now, I
realise that the situation was (6)___________ more serious than I thought at the time. By the
age of twelve, I had lots of camping (7)___________, as I used to go camping with my dog
on my school holidays. We would spend days (8) ________________ forest, catching fish for
dinner, (9)__________________ at the frogs and the (10)________________ and down on
the surface of the water. Of course, this was possible only during the warm months. When
autumn came, everything went quiet, which was quite (11)____________ in those parts. It
wasn't long (12)_______________ the animals disappeared, the birds flew south and the snow
took over. The place became deserted once again.
12 PLASTIC MONEY
In the past, people bought goods using (1)_____________. They rarely (2)___________
money from financial institutions and only when they had (3)_________the money, did they buy what
they wanted.
Recently, however, there have been great changes in the way people purchase goods. To begin with,
some people pay for things by cheque, while others prefer monthly (4) ___________, rather than
paying the whole (5)____________ at once. Most consumers, though, prefer to buy things using their
credit cards. (6)__________ , it is thought that there are benefits to having a credit card. Apart from
the fact that credit cards are handy, some stores offer bonus points to people making purchases, while
others give (7)_________on certain products.
On the other hand, credit cards must be used wisely because they can prove disastrous. In the long run,
consumers find that they can't (8)_____________ without their credit cards and constantly rely
(9)_________ them, as they are “easy money”. As a result, some people lose control of their finances
spending more than they should and wind up not being able to (10)___________. So, they end up in
(11)____________and have difficulty (12)___________ it back.
55
course, the students at Mr Primiceri’s school are taught to (9)___________ common
mistakes, produce a good basic m9ture, add a tasty topping and cook the pizza properly. ‘Test
the finished pizza by breaking the crust,* advises Mr Primiceri. ‘If the soft
(10)_____________ inside the pizza is white, clean and dry, it’s a good pizza. If it is not like
this, the pizza will (11)_________ your stomach. You will feel (12) _____________ full and
also thirsty.’
15 A DEADLY JOB
In Eastern Java one way to (1)__________a living is to harvest the sulphur (2) __________
by a local volcano. Twice a day, around thirty porters leave their huts and head
(3)__________ the 3,156 metre summit of the Welirang Volcano. Once there, they use metal
bars in order to break the sulphur into blocks that will fit into their baskets. While collecting
sulphur, the porters are exposed to toxic fumes which cause many incurable (4)__________.
Most of them, however, don't pay attention to the health risks they face daily and use only a
face mask to (5)___________ themselves. This work (6)__________ their health and they are
often in (7)___________ .As they get older, they become fragile and eventually
(8)_____________ from throat or lung cancer, from which they never (9)____________ .
What is more, they are not paid well, even though they lead a difficult life and their health is
(10)_____________ beyond repair. Yet, In spite of the unhealthy conditions, the porters have
no intention of giving (11)____________ their job. (12)___________ it provides them and
their family with an income, they will continue to do it.
Passive
Grade 8
Rewrite these sentences in passive. Sometimes there is more than one option.
Rewrite these sentences in passive. Sometimes there is more than one option.
Grade 9
1 I hope they will chose me for the college football team.
2 If it hadn't rained so much, we would have finished the job on time.
3 They had asked the guests to arrive by 7.30 p.m.
4 My brother looks after it every day.
5 Did your next door neighbour see the thieves?
6 The entire cast has to learn the script by Monday.
7 You should wash this sweater by hand.
8 Roentgen discovered X-rays by accident while he was experimenting with electricity.
9 They say he has lost his job.
10 Tina said that somebody has stolen her car.
11 You will complete the form in black ink.
12 They have kept me waiting for over 20 minutes.
13 We expect profits to fall slightly next year.
14 They think that the painting is worth at least 5 milloin dollars.
1 The Earth _________(hold) by the gravity of the Sun and orbits around it.
2 The first feature-length comedy film _________ (create) by Charlie Chaplin.
3 The award for best video ___________ (present) later this evening.
4 I don't know whether our tests __________ (mark) yet or not.
5 Radio waves __________ (discover) by Marconi.
6 You wouldn't think it to look at him now, but Jack ______(bully) when he
was at school.
7 Your application_______ (consider) and we will let you know as soon as we've made a
decision.
8 The roof of the car can ________ (lower) by pressing this button here.
9 Our tent _________ (blow) over in the night by the wind.
10 Chess _________ (play) for around two thousand years now.
11 Two men _________ (question) at this moment by police in connection with the burglary.
58
1 Model planes can be painted ________ varnish or paint. (with)
2 Mammoths were hunted _____ early humans.
3 They were hunted _____ spears.
4 They were hunted _____ their meat and hide.
5 The meat was eaten ____ whole tribe.
6 Their hides were used ____ clothing.
7 Nowadays, their fossilized remains are still found ______ palaeontologists.
8 She was woken up ____ a loud noise.
9 The parcel was tied up ____ string.
10 John was told off ___ his mother.
11 This picture was painted ___ a famous artist.
12 The chair was covered ____ a woolen blanket.
13 The walls were decorated _____ posters.
14 My car was repaired ____ my father.
15 The dessert was made ______ fresh cream.
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3 - Amusement Parks are not always fun
“Do you want to come with me to the amusement park?” asked my friend Mark.
“Sure!” I replied. “Great idea!”
Hopefully this time I’d have a pleasant experience. Other times at the amusement park
hadn’t been so much fun. I guess you’re wondering why. Is it possible NOT to have a
fantastic time at an amusement park?
“My Dad has offered to take us by car, Keith. We’ll pick you up at 10 tomorrow morning.”
Mark added.
“Perfect, thanks!”
One problem is that there are so many rules and regulations at amusement parks. I
understand the reason for some of them; they are there to keep people safe. But I think
there are some rules that are too much.
“Can we have two all-day tickets, please?” asked Mark politely.
“Here you are, that’s 30 Euros. And here’s a list of the rides that your friend can go on.”
(“Hello! I’m not stupid, you know. If you have something to say to me, say it to me, not to
my friend. If you have something to give me, give it to me, not to my friend!” I thought.)
Guess what, the list was very short.
“I’m sorry, but your friend can’t ride the carousel.” said the man in charge. (“Hello! I’m not
stupid, you know. If you have something to say to me, say it to me, not to my friend.”)
“Why, what’s the problem?” enquired Mark. He looked annoyed.
“Just a minute son, your friend can’t ride the roller coaster.” said the man in charge. (“Hello!
I’m not stupid, you know. If you have something to say to me, say it to me, not to my
friend.”)
“Why, what is the problem?” asked Mark. This time Mark looked very annoyed. But how do
you think I felt? OK, with the roller coaster I can understand. They would need to have a
special strap for my upper and lower body. But the carousel? I can’t see any good reason
why I couldn’t safely ride the carousel. It doesn’t go fast or make you turn upside down.
“Sorry, mate! Tell your friend this ride’s for kiddies only. Under 12s. He’s too old.” This time
it was a lady who was in charge, and she looked very strict. (“Hello! I’m not stupid, you
know. If you have something to say to me, say it to me, not to my friend.”)
“Yeah, but he’s not allowed on the other rides because they say they are not safe for him,”
Mark complained. He was really angry now. (“Hey, Mark! I can speak for myself, you know!”)
You know what’s happened. Some people pushed their luck and took risks they shouldn’t
have taken and spoiled things for the rest of us. This made the management nervous and
that’s why there are all these super strict rules now. Now people like me aren’t allowed to
decide for ourselves what we can and can’t do. The management knows better. But at
Disneyland several years ago I had a wonderful time. There were lots of rides I could go on,
and the rules there were very favourable!
For example, one time the guy in charge of a ride said: “Bring your friend to the front of the
queue! There’s no need for him to stand in line! Er, wait in line, sorry!” (“Hello! I’m not
stupid, you know. If you have something to say to me, say it to me, not to my friend. And by
61
the way, I know you don’t mean that I should literally stand in line, there is no need to
change the way you use the English language for me.”)
Everyone’s heard of Disneyland, but what about Morgan’s Wonderland in Texas? Have you
ever heard of that? I can’t wait to go. It’s a disability amusement park. I think it will be
magic!
True/False
1. Mark and Keith are good friends. T/F
2. Kieth`s dad has offered to take them to the amusement park by car T/F
4 - Halloween
Like many other holidays, Halloween has evolved and changed throughout history. Over 2,000 years
ago people called the Celts lived in what is now Ireland, the UK, and parts of Northern France.
November 1 was their New Year's Day. They believed that the night before the New Year was a time
when the living and the dead came together.
More than a thousand years ago the Christian church named November 1 All Saints Day (also
called All Hallows.) This was a special holy day to honour the saints and other people who died for
their religion. The night before All Hallows was called Hallows Eve. Later the name was changed to
Halloween.
The Europeans worried that evil spirits would cause problems or hurt them. So on that night people
wore costumes that looked like ghosts or other evil creatures. They thought if they dressed like that,
the spirits would think they were also dead and not harm them.
The tradition of Halloween was carried to America by the immigrating Europeans. Some of the
traditions changed a little, though. For example, on Halloween in Europe some people would carry
lanterns made from turnips. In America, pumpkins were more common. So people began putting
candles inside them and using them as lanterns. That is why you see Jack 'o lanterns today.
These days Halloween is not usually considered a religious holiday. It is primarily a fun day for
children. Children dress up in costumes like people did a thousand years ago. But instead of worrying
about evil spirits, they go from house to house. They knock on doors and say "trick or treat." The
owner of each house gives candy or something special to each trick or treater.
5 - I am a runner!
When I was at school, I played some football and rugby. I hated rugby because I couldn’t catch the
ball, but I enjoyed football. I started out being a terrible player and nobody wanted me to be on their
team. But I started to improve slowly and, after a few years, the other kids in the school accepted me
as a player, not a fantastic one, but one who wouldn’t do anything stupid. When I was at university, I
stopped playing sports altogether. I was working too hard, started eating too much, and, worst of all,
I started smoking. By the time I was thirty, I was overweight and unfit. Then one day, I was sitting in
the park, smoking a cigarette. I was watching these guys running. They looked slim, fit and healthy,
and some of them were much older than me. When I got home, I looked in the bathroom mirror and,
well, I suppose I just didn’t like what I saw. At that moment, I decided to stop smoking and change
my life. I went to a sports shop, bought myself a pair of running shoes, shorts and a sweatshirt. That
evening I went running around the park – for ten minutes! Physically, I felt terrible. Everything was
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hurting: my legs, my chest. But inside, I did feel good about it. The next evening, I went again. I still
only did ten minutes, but I didn’t feel as I bad as I did the day before. Within a week, I was running
for fifteen minutes, then twenty, and after three weeks I ran for thirty minutes without stopping.
Quite soon, I was running longer distances and my speed and strength were improving all the time.
After six months, I was a runner! That was five years ago. I now run eight kilometres six times a week
and love it. My proudest moment was last year, when I ran my first marathon and finished in under
three hours. I’m fitter now than I’ve ever been, and am so glad that I went to sit in the park that day
five years ago.
True/False
1. He hated like rugby at school because he couldn`t run fast. T/F
6
The pupils of Grangetown High have been busy getting to know their newest and tallest classmate - a
7-metre-tall giraffe outside their school.
The giraffe is a huge metal sculpture made by a local artist. The school's headmaster noticed the
sculpture in the artist’s garden as he drove past one day, and thought it would be perfect tor his
school. 'I knew everyone would love it,' he said, 'because our basketball team is known as the
Grangetown Giraffes, and they wear giraffes on their shirts. So I asked them to write a letter to the
artist, asking how much it would cost to buy the giraffe. He was very kind and got it ready to deliver
in six weeks - all for nothing! He arranged for it to arrive one Sunday morning, so that the pupils
would see it when they got to school on the Monday - at that stage they had no idea that we were
getting it.'
The artist, Tom Bennett, was a university professor of chemistry before he retired in 2006 and only
took up metalwork a couple of years ago. But he had always been a keen artist. 'I've always drawn
pictures,’ he said. 'I can even remember doing it on my first day at school -1 drew a horse. I wanted it
to be the best horse picture ever, but I don’t think I succeeded!'
Tom's first project using metal was a bicycle for two that he and his wife could go cycling on
together. ‘It was the most uncomfortable bike ever created,' admits Tom, "so I gave up making
bicycles and went into sculpture instead.'
The first metal sculpture I ever did was of a lion, which now also lives at a school. It started out as a
cat, but it just didn't look right, so I made it into a lion and put it in my front garden. It soon began to
attract attention from passers-by. Some small children wouldn't walk past the lion unless they could
have a turn sitting and playing on its back. I think children feel that my sculptures look like actual live
animals, and that’s what I want.'
Meanwhile the pupils at Grangetown High are very happy with their new classmate. ‘We're going to
hold a competition to give it a proper name.' said one girl. ‘Everyone likes the expression on its face,
so perhaps that will give us some ideas.
True or false
1. The headmaster wrote to the artist to ask about buying the sculpture for the school.
7 - Jogging
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My first piece of advice to people who want to start getting fit is: don’t buy an exercise bike.
Typically, people who buy them use them for a week or so and then forget about them. They
are effective if they are used regularly but you need to be determined. Most people will find
it much easier to go for a gentle jog around the park. As well as being easy to do, jogging is
also relatively cheap compared to most other sports. You don’t need to buy expensive
clothes if you’re just going running around the park or on the beach. The main thing is that
they’re comfortable, and that they keep you warm in the winter and cool in the summer.
There is one piece of equipment, however, that you will have to spend time and money on,
and that’s your running shoes. Remember that you are not looking for a fashion item, but for
something that will support your feet and protect you from injury. They can be expensive,
but if they are good quality they will last you a long time. It’s always best to get expert
advice, and the best place for that is a sports shop. As for the actual jogging, the secret is to
start gently, and not to do too much at the beginning – especially if you haven’t had any
exercise for a long time. Try a mixture of walking and running for ten minutes about three
times a week at first. Once you are happy doing that you can then start to increase the
amount you do gradually. After a few months you should hope to be able to run at a
reasonable speed for twenty minutes three or four times a week. It’s important that you feel
comfortable with whatever you do. If you do, you’ll start to enjoy it and will probably keep
doing it. If it makes you feel uncomfortable, you’ll probably stop after a short time and
return to your bad habits. In any case, training too hard is not very effective. Research has
shown that somebody who exercises for twice as long or twice as hard as another person
doesn’t automatically become twice as fit.
1) Most people don’t use exercise bikes for very long. T/F
Levi Strauss was born in Germany in the mid 1800's and emigrated to the United States as a
young man. He lived in New York City and learned the dry-goods business for several years.
In 1853 he took his knowledge and his dreams to San Francisco (California., USA.) His dream
to succeed came true over the next 20 years as he became a very successful businessman.
Many of Levi Strauss' customers were cowboys and miners. They needed clothing that was
strong and durable. Strauss found a special fabric from France that was comfortable and
lasted a long time. It was called "serge de Nimes," which was later shortened to the
word denim.
Another man named Jacob Davis bought large amounts of the denim fabric from Levi
Strauss. He was a tailor who made pants for hard-working men. One of his customers was
continually tearing the pockets off his pants. So Jacob Davis decided to put rivets on certain
parts of the pants to make them stronger. The customer loved the new pants so much that
he told all his friends, and soon Jacob Davis was busy making lots of pants with rivets.
Jacob Davis soon realized that using rivets was a great business idea, and he didn't want
anybody to steal that idea. He decided that he would need to get a patent. But being a poor
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tailor, he didn't have enough money to pay for the patent. After thinking it over, he went to
the businessman Levi Strauss and told him his idea. He said, "If you agree to pay for the
patent, we will share the profits from the riveted pants." Levi Strauss did agree, and the new
riveted pant business was called Levi Strauss and Company. Today Levi's jeans are more
popular than ever, and Levi's name continues to live on.
True or False.
1. Levi Strauss was born in 1853. T/F
9
What if you could travel to exotic locations and help save animals' lives -- on the same trip?
Portland veterinarians have done so for years. Joi Sutton of Moreland Veterinary Hospital founded
Veterinary Ventures, which sends teams of vets to developing countries. Gabriella Flacke of
Murrayhill Veterinary Hospital just returned from a trip to Bolivia for Humane Society International
and has volunteered in Latin America for years.
And with guidance from an organization founded in the Pacific Northwest, you, too, dear amateur
animal lover, can travel to interesting places and help the local domestic critters in a meaningful
way.
World Vets, a nonprofit group that a Washington veterinarian started in 2006, organizes veterinary
aid missions all over the world. On each trip, two to three slots are open to participants lacking any
veterinary experience whatsoever.
Most of World Vets' destinations are in Central America. Trips typically last one week; destinations
taking too long to get leave less time for the work at hand.
And work trips they are. Sure, a couple of days are reserved for R&R -- after all, who wants to pay
just over $1,000 plus airfare only to come home exhausted? -- but the emphasis is on
volunteering, not tourism.
1. How many places are open to non-veterinarians on each veterinary aid mission
A 10
B 2 or 3
C 1
In ancient Mexico there were many small clearings in the forest. In each clearing there was a
village with fields of corn, beans, and other crops around it. To clear the land for farms, the
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Maya cut down trees with stone axes. They planted seeds by digging holes in the ground
with pointed sticks. A farmer was able to grow crops that produced food for several people.
But not every Maya had to be a farmer. Some were cloth makers, builders, or priests.
The Maya believed in many gods, including rain gods, sun gods, and corn gods. They built
large temples to honor the Mayan gods. Skillful workers built cities around these temples. It
was difficult for them to construct these cities because they had no horses to carry the heavy
stone they used to build with. Workers had to carry all of the building materials themselves.
Today, many of these ancient Mayan cities and temples are still standing.
Although the cities that the Maya built were beautiful, and the people worked hard to build
them, very few of them lived there. Usually, only the priests lived in the cities.
The other people lived in small villages in the forests. Their houses were much simpler than
the elaborate structures in the cities. They lived in small huts with no windows. The walls
were made of poles covered with dried mud, and the roof was made of grass or leaves. Most
Maya lived a simple life close to nature.
Measuring time was important to the Maya, so they developed a system for measuring it
accurately. Farmers needed to know when to plant and harvest their crops. Mayan priests
made a system to keep track of time. They wrote numbers as dots (...) and bars (-). A dot was
one and a bar was five.
The Mayan priests studied the Sun, Moon, stars, and planets. They made a calendar from
what they learned. The year was divided into 18 months of 20 days each with five days left
over. The Mayan calendar was far more accurate than the European calendars of the time.
Around the year 800, the Maya left their villages and beautiful cities, never to return. No one
knows why this happened. They may have died from an infectious disease. They may have
left because the soil could no longer grow crops. Archaeologists are still trying to find the
lost secrets of the Maya. They are still one of our greatest mysteries.
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It all started at the beginning of fifth grade. At first, Carmen wasn’t really sure what was happening.
In class, she had to squint to see the blackboard clearly. She had to do the same thing when she read
street signs, or when she watched a movie. As the fuzziness got worse, she became more and more
worried. It was important for her to see the notes and homework assignments the teacher put on the
board.
It wasn’t long before Carmen found herself squinting all the time, but she didn’t want anyone to
know that she was having a vision problem. In class, she asked for a desk that was closer to the
blackboard. One day, her teacher said, "Carmen, are you all right? I’ve noticed you squinting a lot.
Are you having trouble seeing the board?"
Carmen shook her head. "I’m fine, Mrs. Cruz," she said, but she knew she couldn’t pretend much
longer.
At home, she had to sit closer and closer to the television in order to see the picture. Her mother
noticed her squinting as she watched her favorite shows, and she began to get suspicious.
"Tomorrow I’m calling the eye doctor to set up an appointment for you," she said firmly. Carmen
protested, but her mother’s mind was made up.
Three days later, Carmen had new glasses and instructions from her doctor to wear them all the
time. Carmen frowned in the car the whole way home.
"All of the kids at school will think I’m a nerd," she said. Her mother smiled and shook her head.
"You look just as beautiful with those glasses on as you do without them," she said. But Carmen
didn’t believe her.
The next day, Carmen kept the glasses in her pocket as she walked into the schoolyard. She avoided
her friends and stood alone, feeling miserable.
Suddenly, she heard her friend Theresa shout.
Carmen ran over to the other girls. "What’s wrong?" she asked.
"My silver ring is gone!" Theresa cried. "My sister sent it to me from California. It’s very special and I
can’t lose it!"
Carmen could tell that Theresa was very upset. They all looked for the ring in the grassy area of the
playground.
Carmen realized that she could search better if she could see better. She took the glasses out of her
pocket and put them on. The objects and people around her came into sharp focus. She caught her
breath. Everything looked so different! So clear! She looked down at the ground and a glimmer of
silver caught her eye. It was the ring.
"Here it is," she shouted. "I’ve found it!" She handed it to Theresa, and Theresa slipped the ring back
on her finger.
"Thanks Carmen," she said. "I never thought we'd find it." She paused. "Hey, I didn’t know you wore
glasses. They look great!"
Carmen had forgotten that she was wearing the new glasses. "Thanks," she replied shyly.
As they walked back toward the school building, two more girls from her class complimented her
glasses. Carmen smiled. "Maybe wearing glasses won’t be so bad after all," she thought.
12 - TIGERS
Tigers: They're big, brave and scary, right? Well, not necessarily it seems, if we believe this story from
a zoo in China.
The Chongqing Wild Animal Park has five rare adult white tigers. The original idea was to train them
and make them tame enough to perform tricks for visitors, but it now seems that the process may
have gone a bit too far.
According to one of their keepers, the tigers have started to lose their true nature because they've
been cared for by humans and now have quite a comfortable lifestyle. Keepers have been trying to
get them to follow their natural instincts by teaching them to hunt, but the results so far are not
encouraging.
The keeper says: "It was quite funny really. The tigers were so scared of other live animals. They
wouldn't go near them." In the end, the tigers did work up enough courage to approach a potential
meal but only because it had passed out. The problem was, when it regained consciousness and
started making noises, they immediately ran for cover.
So, how do you make a cowardly tiger brave again? In an attempt to toughen them up, the keepers
are now not allowing them to stay in their heated cages for more than 12 hours a day. If this doesn't
do the trick, the next plan is to put a wild tiger in with them to show them how things are supposed
to be done. But perhaps you've already spotted the fault with this: what if the domesticated tigers
are afraid of their wild cousin? "If all else fails", says their keeper, "we will just have to cut down their
food till they have no choice but to find food for themselves."
13 - CLIMATE RESEARCH
The world's oceans have warmed 50 percent faster over the last 40 years than previously thought due
to climate change, Australian and US climate researchers reported Wednesday. Higher ocean
temperatures expand the volume of water, contributing to a rise in sea levels that is submerging small
island nations and threatening to wreak havoc in low-lying, densely-populated delta regions around the
globe.
The study, published in the British journal Nature, adds to a growing scientific chorus of warnings
about the pace and consequences rising oceans. It also serves as a corrective to a massive report issued
last year by the Nobel-winning UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), according to
the authors.
Rising sea levels are driven by two things: the thermal expansion of sea water, and additional water
from melting sources of ice. Both processes are caused by global warming. The ice sheet that sits atop
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Greenland, for example, contains enough water to raise world ocean levels by seven metres (23 feet),
which would bury sea-level cities from Dhaka to Shanghai.
Trying to figure out how much each of these factors contributes to rising sea levels is critically
important to understanding climate change, and forecasting future temperature rises, scientists say. But
up to now, there has been a perplexing gap between the projections of computer-based climate models,
and the observations of scientists gathering data from the oceans.
The new study, led by Catia Domingues of the Centre for Australian Weather and Climate Research, is
the first to reconcile the models with observed data. Using new techniques to assess ocean
temperatures to a depth of 700 metres (2,300 feet) from 1961 to 2003, it shows that thermal warming
contributed to a 0.53 millimetre-per-year rise in sea levels rather than the 0.32 mm rise reported by the
IPCC.
For centuries, people have been playing kicking games with a ball. The game of soccer
developed from some of these early games. The English probably gave soccer its name and
its first set of rules. In European countries, soccer is called football or association football.
Some people believe that the name "soccer" came from "assoc.," an abbreviation for the
word association. Others believe that the name came from the high socks that the players
wear.
Organized soccer games began in 1863. In soccer, two teams of eleven players try to kick or
head the ball into their opponents’ goal. The goalie, who tries to keep the ball out of the
goal, is the only player on the field who is allowed to touch the ball with his or her hands.
The other players must use their feet, heads, and bodies to control the ball.
Every four years, soccer teams around the world compete for the World Cup. The World Cup
competition started in 1930.
Brazil is the home of many great soccer players, including the most famous player of all,
Pelé. With his fast footwork, dazzling speed, and great scoring ability, Pelé played for many
years in Brazil and then later in New York. During his 22 years in soccer, he scored 1,281
goals and held every major record for the sport.
People in more than 140 countries around the world play soccer. It is the national sport of
most European and Latin American countries. Soccer is definitely the world’s most popular
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sport!
Naismith attached peach baskets to a railing ten feet above the floor at either end of the
gym. The players used a soccer ball.
A person sat on a ladder next to each basket at either end of the gym, and threw out the
balls that landed in the baskets. Naismith decided that having only five players on each team
would keep the game from getting too rough.
Two years later, metal hoops with net bags replaced the peach baskets. Officials pulled a
string on the nets to release the balls that went in. In 1894, Naismith added the backboard
behind each net and changed to a larger ball. In 1913, people began using the bottomless
nets that are used today.
During a basketball game, two teams of five players each throw the ball into two baskets at
opposite ends of a court. Players bounce, or dribble, the ball to the basket or pass the ball to
teammates. A team scores points by getting the ball into their team’s basket. The team with
the highest score wins.
By the 1900s, basketball was the most popular indoor sport. Athletes in approximately 130
countries play the game. Basketball is especially popular in the United States, China, and
Puerto Rico.
Baseball began in the United States in the early 1800s. Some people believe that Abner
Doubleday invented the game. Others think that baseball came from an old British sport
called rounders. Baseball and rounders are very similar. However, in rounders the field
players throw the ball right at the runner. If the ball hits the runner, he or she is out. In
baseball, a field player just touches the ball to the base or the running player to get the
player out.
Today’s baseball players use special equipment to help prevent injuries. Field players wear
baseball gloves to protect their hands. The catcher wears a metal mask, a chest protector,
and shin guards. Batters wear plastic helmets to protect their heads.
Every spring in the United States, people of all ages play baseball at local baseball fields. It’s
no wonder that baseball is called the national pastime of the United States.
1. Organized soccer games began in ___________ .
a) 1930
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b) early 1800s
c) 1894
d) 1863
15
To: Ellie Crest
Subject: Surfing Holiday
Hi Ellie,
I’m so pleased you can come surfing in August! Paul, Rose and Kevin are coming too, so there will be
five of us. We’ve decided to return to New Sands, because the surf board hire is so cheap there.
I’m starting to think about accommodation. We won’t camp again after last year! I hated staying in a
tent in all that rain!
Kevin wants to hire a caravan. There are some nice ones with 3 bedrooms, showers and cooking
facilities. The problem is, none of the caravan parks take short bookings in the summer. The
minimum stay is a week. It’s a shame because there are several nice parks near the beach.
There’s a youth hostel in New Sands. It’s the cheapest option after camping, and there’s a big kitchen
and dining room where we can cook. The problem is, accommodation is in dormitories and I don’t
really want to sleep with strangers.
There are a few guest houses in New Sands. Some have triple rooms, so we’d only need to book two
rooms. They’re not expensive, but we wouldn’t be able to cook there. We’d have to eat out at
restaurants, or eat sandwiches for every meal! We’ll have to book soon if we choose that option,
because many guest houses are already full. The hotels in New Sands are far too expensive, even
though I’d love to stay at the Sunrise Pavilion with its rooftop pool!
The final option is to rent a cottage. Few cottages offer mid-week breaks in summer, but I found one.
It has three bedrooms - a double, a single and a twin, so two of us would have to share a bed!
There’s a big kitchen diner with a microwave, washing machine and dishwasher. The living room has
a TV and DVD player. There’s just one bathroom, but there’s a separate WC. There’s a nice garden
too. The problem is, it’s 5 miles from the beach, so we’d have to hire a car, because there aren’t any
buses.
Cheers
Natalie
Three years ago on the last day of January, I had a big problem. I can't forget this day forever.
The story began when my uncle, my cousin, and I went to the desert. My uncle was the oldest
at 72 years old, but he was still strong. My cousin at that time was 10 years old, and I was 25
years old. All of us liked hunting. Usually we went hunting on the weekend, especially in
winter, because winter is the hunting season.
On the 25th of January, we decided to go hunting. All things were ready in the car, a Range
Rover with four-wheel drive. We began on Thursday afternoon, and it took us three hours by
car. We reached the place we were looking for at 5:15 P.M. First, we fixed the tent, then we
made coffee and had a few minutes of rest. After that, we left to go on the hunt. We hunted
using a falcon. Often, we hunt birds and rabbits. We spent two hours without finding
anything. We decided to go back to the camp. On our way back, my cousin saw a rabbit. He
cried, "Rabbit!! Rabbit! Quick!" I took the falcon's head cover and flung it off aggressively.
When the rabbit saw the falcon, it ran fast, but my falcon was a professional hunter. He flew
up and came down to trick the rabbit. After two minutes, the rabbit was caught. We took it
and went back to the camp where we started to cook our dinner. We ate the delicious food,
drank Arabic coffee, and sat around the fire talking until 10:30 P.M. Then we went to bed.
We left camp the next day at 7 o'clock in the morning. We went north and found two kinds of
birds and caught them. However, we faced trouble at 10:00A.M. because the car got stuck in
the sand! We spent about three hours trying to pull out the car without any progress. Finally,
we decided to walk. I talked with my uncle about how hard it is for an old man or a young
boy to walk more than 40 km. in the desert. He agreed with me. So I took a bottle of water
with me and started to walk south alone. I knew the way well, but it was a long way in the
sand. I walked more than four hours without stopping. I felt tired and thirsty. I drank all the
water which was in the bottle. I stopped to rest, sleeping around two hours.
When I got up, darkness had covered the area. "What should I do?" I asked myself. I
continued to walk south. I was worried about my uncle and cousin, and they were worried
about me also. Suddenly, I met a Bedouin man who was riding his camel. He took me to his
house. When I had had enough rest, I asked him to take me to the road and he did. After that, I
found a car which took me to the city to get help. I had one day to get back to my uncle and
cousin. When I got back to them, they were so happy because I had gotten help and they were
able to see me again.
Eventually, I learned a lesson from this story, which was that the desert is very dangerous.
Next time, when we go hunting, we must go in groups with two or more cars. If we go
together, we can keep each other safe. We know the desert is dangerous, but we will never
quit hunting.
1 Which of the following is NOT true?
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B Saeed was younger than his uncle and his cousin.
C Three males went hunting.
D Winter is the hunting season, so they went hunting in January.
E Saeed's uncle was an old, but strong man.
2 - CAVE DRAWINGS
When another old cave is discovered in the south of France, it is not usually news. Rather, it
is an ordinary event. Such discoveries are so frequent these days that hardly anybody pays heed to
them. However, when the Lascaux cave complex was discovered in 1940, the world was amazed.
Painted directly on its walls were hundreds of scenes showing how people lived thousands of years
ago. The scenes show people hunting animals, such as bison or wild cats. Other images depict birds
and, most noticeably, horses, which appear in more than 300 wall images, by far outnumbering all
other animals. Early artists drawing these animals accomplished a monumental and difficult task.
They did not limit themselves to the easily accessible walls but carried their painting materials to
spaces that required climbing steep walls or crawling into narrow passages in the
Lascaux complex. Unfortunately, the paintings have been exposed to the destructive action of water
and temperature changes, which easily wear the images away. Because the Lascaux caves have
many entrances, air movement has also damaged the images inside. Although they are not out in
the open air, where natural light would have destroyed them long ago, many of the images have
deteriorated and are barely recognizable. To prevent further damage, the site was closed to tourists
in 1963, 23 years after it was discovered.
3 - Dirty Britain
Before the grass has thickened on the roadside verges and leaves have started growing on the
trees is a perfect time to look around and see just how dirty Britain has become. The
pavements are stained with chewing gum that has been spat out and the gutters are full of
discarded fast food cartons. Years ago I remember travelling abroad and being saddened by
the plastic bags, discarded bottles and soiled nappies at the edge of every road. Nowadays,
Britain seems to look at least as bad. What has gone wrong?
The problem is that the rubbish created by our increasingly mobile lives lasts a lot longer than
before. If it is not cleared up and properly thrown away, it stays in the undergrowth for years;
a semi-permanent reminder of what a tatty little country we have now.
Firstly, it is estimated that 10 billion plastic bags have been given to shoppers. These will take
anything from 100 to 1,000 years to rot. However, it is not as if there is no solution to this. A
few years ago, the Irish government introduced a tax on non-recyclable carrier bags and in
three months reduced their use by 90%. When he was a minister, Michael Meacher attempted
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to introduce a similar arrangement in Britain. The plastics industry protested, of course.
However, they need not have bothered; the idea was killed before it could draw breath,
leaving supermarkets free to give away plastic bags.
What is clearly necessary right now is some sort of combined initiative, both individual and
collective, before it is too late. The alternative is to continue sliding downhill until we have a
country that looks like a vast municipal rubbish tip. We may well be at the tipping point. Yet
we know that people respond to their environment. If things around them are clean and tidy,
people behave cleanly and tidily. If they are surrounded by squalor, they behave squalidly.
Now, much of Britain looks pretty squalid. What will it look like in five years?
Q1 - The writer says that it is a good time to see Britain before the trees have leaves because
We waited to find out more about the results of this research so we asked our readers what they
thought about the value of friendship. Here are some examples of what they said about their friends.
Ben, 15
Every time have a fight with my parents I need some time on my own. But after that, the first thing l
do is meet up with my friends. After playing football for a while, or skateboarding, I usually feel much
happier again.
Rory, 13
When I moved to a village in the countryside, I thought that it would be the end of mv friendships.
But my old friends have kept in touch and they come and visit m the holidays. There's a lake nearby,
so we often go sailing, water-skiing or windsurfing. And I have made some new friends here, too, at
school, and since joined the rugby club
Carlos, 11
Last year I broke my arm on a skiing holiday. Unfortunately, it was my left arm and I am left handed.
My school friends all helped and copied their notes for me
It seems that out readers value their friendships very highly. From what they told us they spend a lot
of time with their friends, just, hanging out, or sharing hobbies and interests they seem to need their
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friends for advice, help, chats, and for having fun. Clearly friends make each other feel better.
Looking at what our readers told us, the results of the recent research are not really surprising.
5 - KAYAKING HOLIDAY
Would you like to see amazing wildlife and breathtaking scenery? Do you want to learn about a
unique culture? If your answer is yes then you should follow in the footsteps of Mike Smith and take
a trip to the state of Georgia in America.
Every year my wife and I go on a camping holiday in France. Although this is something we both
really enjoy, this year I wanted to go somewhere I’d never been before and do something exciting.
We did some research and came up with the idea of going to the US. We chose a kayaking holiday in
the southern state of Georgia. Neither of us had ever been kayaking before, but we managed to find
a package which included lessons for beginners.
Georgia is an amazing place; it’s a crossroad of different cultures and it has had a fascinating and at
times violent past. It is also a place of untouched natural beauty, with nature parks and an unspoilt
coastline. We went to Cathead Creek, an area rich in wildlife and scenery. Our kayaking instructor
was a friendly local called Frank. As my wife and I had never been kayaking before, we found the first
few lessons a bit challenging. In spite of this, Frank was always very patient and he would constantly
offer words of encouragement. After some practice, we became more confident and realised it
wasn’t that difficult. We also did a safety course and Frank made us aware of any potential dangers,
including the alligators in the swamp! After completing the course, we felt ready for adventure and
we decided to go further out along the Darien River. As we glided down the river, I felt a delicious
shiver of fear run up my spine as I recalled Frank’s words of advice before we left, ‘Watch out for the
alligators.’
We quietly slipped past a huge alligator, its unblinking eyes staring at us with mild interest. We
paddled on and watched brightly coloured birds fly over the water. We stopped to have some bread
and cheese and admire the view. We saw fishing boats returning with their catch of Georgian shrimp,
which is the region’s culinary speciality and is definitely worth trying if you visit Georgia. We also
spent a few days on Cumberland Island, which is one of the many islands off Georgia’s coast.
Cumberland Island is a protected paradise, which makes it both secluded and peaceful. We rented
bicycles and followed a trail which led to a beautiful beach. On the following day, we took a tour of
the island and this gave us the opportunity to see all kinds of amazing wildlife. It was a wonderful
experience and, without a doubt, Cumberland Island is a place of unbelievable beauty.
As my wife is interested in history, we also dedicated some time to visiting various museums. I
particularly enjoyed the Geechee Kunda Visitor’s Centre, which some locals had recommended - here
we learnt about the first Africans that had been brought to the region in slave ships. A huge cotton
and rice empire was built in Georgia using the Africans as workers. The Africans had been taken from
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different parts of West Africa and each group had their own culture, language, knowledge and music
which they brought into their everyday life. After the Civil War the rice and cotton plantations were
burnt down and the owners left, leaving the slaves behind. As a result, a unique culture was created
known as Geechee. The Geechee people spoke their own language, which was a mix of various West
African languages. In the present day, the Geechee Visitor’s Centre has made a huge effort to record
the history and culture of these unique people. It was a fascinating experience and something that
enriched our visit to Georgia.
We returned from our holiday feeling happy and relaxed and we plan to go back to Georgia next
year!
1. The writer
Elizabeth I was the queen of England from 1533 until 1603. Elizabeth ruled very differently from
other kings and queens before her. She asked experts for advice instead of making decisions by
herself. She was also more tolerant of religious differences instead of attacking people with
different faiths. While most kings and queens usually married and had children at a young age,
Elizabeth did not marry nor have children during her life although she did have romantic
relationships.
In Ireland, there was a rebellion against England mostly because of religious differences.
Elizabeth used her armies in an attempt to stop it. Most historians agree that her fight against the
rebelling Irish was very brutal and many thousands of them died. Most of the Irish rebellions
were stopped but some fighting continued even after Elizabeth’s death in 1603.
Philip II, the king of Spain was growing more confident after his armies won a series of battles
against England in other parts of the world. He eventually decided to attack England itself. In
1588, the Spanish armada set sail for England. Greatly outnumbered by the Spanish ships, it
seemed all hope was lost for England. The English navy attempted a desperate tactic by setting
eight of its own ships on fire and sailing them towards the Spanish armada. The Spanish captains
panicked at the sight of the fiery ships and retreated.
Elizabethan England had many problems. The price of food was very high due to inadequate
crops. The war versus Spain and in Ireland and Scotland cost a very large amount of money.
Instead of asking the government for more money, she gave land to the very rich and gave them
too much control over business. Historians disagree about whether Elizabeth was a good leader
but most people agree that she was very interesting and made some very important decisions as a
ruler.
1 According to the article, how was Elizabeth different to previous kings and queens?
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A She didn't get married or have any romantic relationships
B She listened to recommendations from others and was more open-minded
C She listened to recommendations from others and made her own decisions
D She didn't mind showing her disapproval of people with different faiths
7
It is said that most people have no more than 30 friends a any given time and 400 over the whole of
their lives However on social networking sites most users have about 150 fiends If these numbers are
correct then friendship means different things in different situations
One of the reasons for having more online friends than real friends at a certain point in time .s that
online friendships do not require much time and energy; it is easy to accept friendships and keep
them forever Another possibility is that it is difficult to say no when somebody asks us to be their
friend online even if we feel we don’t really know them. The fact that they ask us suggests that they
do consider us a friend, which is a nice feeling. Alternatively they may be collectors of online friends
and just want to use us to get a higher number of friends and appear to be popular
Online friendships are quite easy, but in the real world decisions about friendships are harder to
make. There are no rules about friendship. There are no guidelines about how to make friends how
to keep friendships going and how to finish friendships if we want to move on. People have very
different opinions about this some people would die for their friends and they value them more than
family. Others say that friends are temporary, only there to help each other until they are no longer
needed. If people with such different views become friends, this can lead to problems
Because of these different definitions of friendship it is easy to be unhappy about our friendships.
We may want them to be deeper or closer or we may want to nave more friends in our lives.
Sometimes we simply do not have the time to develop our friendships. or we fear we have left it too
late in life to start. If we move to another country or city we have to find ways to make new friends
again.
This dissatisfaction snows us how important friendships are for most of us. We should not think that
it could be too late to build friendships. We also need to understand that me need to be around
other people is one that is shared by many. Therefore, we should not be too frightened about
starting to talk to people who in the future may become our friends it is likely that they too would
like to get closer to us. Remember what people say, ‘Strangers are friends we have not met yet.’
8
My family have always been huge fans of New Zealand - my mum comes from the capital - so we
saved up and went for a holiday there. We started with a week in the city she grew up in. After that,
we toured around for a while before ending up by chance in Kaikoura, a small town on the coast. The
first evening it seemed a rather dull place, but the next day I remembered what I'd read about it -
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that it was often possible to see dolphins and whales there! I'll always think of Kaikoura as the place
where I finally achieved my lifelong ambition - to swim with wild dolphins.
My family and I set off on a dolphin trip on a cold, grey day with a number of other people on a small
boat. However, the sky soon turned blue, and we raced across the waves in the sunshine until we
finally reached the place where we were supposed to go swimming. To my surprise, this was more
than 40 km from land. I was quite cold by this time, and really starting to wonder why my family had
made me come all the way out there, when suddenly someone shouted Dolphins!’.
All I could see were fins everywhere - there were more than a hundred dolphins, all swimming
towards our boat! Many of them were jumping around in the water as if they were asking us to come
and play. I put on my snorkel and jumped into the sea. Everywhere I looked, all I could see was
dolphins, swimming under me and round me. Then I remembered the guide had told us to make
sounds in the water to attract them. So I did and actually heard them making similar sounds, as if
they were trying to answer me. I even made eye contact with one dolphin, and watched it carefully
as I swam round in a circle. Amazingly, the dolphin almost followed me, but then changed its mind,
although it kept eye contact with me all the time. It really made me realize how intelligent and
beautiful these creatures are.
Then after an hour of swimming the guides called us to get back onto the boat. Although I had
enjoyed myself, I was keen to leave the water by then as I was very cold. As I got dry I noticed that
everyone on board was smiling and I realized what a very special moment we'd had.
I'll never forget that experience, and Kaikoura will always have a special place in my heart.
True or false
1. Paul has family connections with the place he first visited in New Zealand.
9 Merriwether Mall
Gatesbridge’s new Merriwether Mall is opening this September. With an area of 320,000
square metres, the Merriweather Mall will be the biggest mall in the south west. It’s located
close to the motorway, has its own bus station and 2000 car parking spaces, so it is
convenient for everyone.
The mall has five areas, all under cover. The largest, Main Street, is a shopping area on three
floors. Here, you’ll find all the major chain stores and department stores. You can buy
fashion items and all the famous brand names. There is also a large chemist`s.
Situated on two levels, the market square is where you can find traditional market stalls. On
the lower floor, there are food stalls, including a butcher’s, baker’s, a fishmonger’s,
greengrocer’s and delicatessen. On the upper floor, you will find stalls selling hardware and
haberdashery.
Bohemia is at the rear of the mall. Here, you’ll find quirky, independent shops selling
everything from second hand music and books to clothes and handicrafts.
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The Palisade is more upmarket. Here you will find fashion boutiques, jewellers, antiques and
furniture. There are also two banks and a post office located along The Palisade.
The Showground is the entertainment centre of the mall. On the ground floor, there is a
food court where you’ll find cuisine from around the world, including Chinese, Japanese,
Thai and Italian food. There is a large arena where events will take place through the year.
There is also an eight-screen cinema, a night club and a bowling alley.
And if that is not enough, we are offering you a voucher which will give you £10 off any
purchase over £40 that you make in the Merriwether Mall between 10th and 16th
September. You can’t afford to miss it!
Ramon looked at the food on his tray and made a face. "Macaroni and cheese again," he
said to his friend Brian. "They never serve anything good for lunch."
Brian gave his own lunch a critical look and frowned. "You think that’s bad," he said, "I’ve got
peanut butter and jelly again. It’s the third time this week!"
They pushed the food aside. "We can get something at the burger place after school,"
Ramon said. They concentrated on studying for their English test instead of eating. English
was next period, and Mr. Friedman had a reputation for giving difficult tests. When the bell
rang, they dropped their uneaten lunches into the garbage. Mr. Friedman was standing
nearby. "Not hungry, guys?" he asked. They shook their heads and hurried off to class.
When the test was over, there were still ten minutes left in the period. Mr. Friedman stood
at the front of the class.
"Before you leave today," he said, leaning against the desk, "I’d like to share an old African
folktale with you. I think you’ll find this one interesting. It’s called ‘Why the Sky Is Far Away’":
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Long ago the sky was close to the Earth. Men and women did not have to plant their own food.
Instead, when they were hungry, they just reached up and broke off a piece of the sky to eat.
Sometimes the sky tasted like ripe bananas. Other times it tasted like roasted potatoes. The sky was
always delicious.
People spent their time making beautiful cloth. They painted beautiful pictures and sang songs at
night. The grand king, Oba, had a wonderful palace. His servants made beautiful shapes out of pieces
of sky.
Many people in the kingdom did not use the gift of the sky wisely. When they took more than they
could eat, the sky became angry. Some people threw the extra pieces into the garbage.
Early one morning the angry sky turned dark. Black clouds hung over the land, and a great sky voice
said to all the people, "You are wasting my gift of food. Do not take more than you can eat. I don’t
want to see pieces of me in the garbage anymore or I will take my gift away."
The king and the people trembled with fear. King Oba said, "Let’s be careful about how much food
we take." For a long time, all the people were careful.
But one man named Adami wasn’t careful. At festival time, he took so many delicious pieces of sky
that he couldn’t eat them all. He knew he must not throw them away.
He tried to give the pieces to his wife. "Here, wife," Adami said. "You eat the rest."
The king and the people trembled with fear. King Oba said, "Let’s be careful about how much food
we take." For a long time, all the people were careful.
But one man named Adami wasn’t careful. At festival time, he took so many delicious pieces of sky
that he couldn’t eat them all. He knew he must not throw them away.
He tried to give the pieces to his wife. "Here, wife," Adami said. "You eat the rest."
Adami asked all his children to help him eat the delicious pieces of sky, but the children couldn’t eat
one more bite. So Adami decided to try to hide the pieces at the bottom of the garbage pile.
Suddenly, the sky became angry and the clouds turned black. "You have wasted my gift of food
again," yelled the sky. "This time I will go away so you cannot waste me anymore."
All of the people cried, "What will we eat? We might starve!"
The sky said, "You will have to learn how to plant crops in the ground and hunt in the forests. If you
work hard, you may learn not to waste the gifts of nature."
Everyone watched as the sky sailed away. From that time on, they worked hard to grow their food
and cook their meals. They always tried to remember not to waste the gifts of nature.
The bell rang for the next period. "That’s the end," Mr. Friedman said, smiling. He looked at Ramon
and Brian.
"What did you think of the story?" he asked. They slouched in their chairs and looked apologetic.
"We get the message," they said, smiling. "No more lunches in the garbage!"
11 –
Ada Lovelace was the daughter of the poet Lord Byron. She was taught by Mary Somerville, a well-
known researcher and scientific author, who introduced her to Charles Babbage in June 1833.
Babbage was an English mathematician, who first had the idea for a programmable computer.
In 1842 and 1843, Ada translated the work of an Italian mathematician, Luigi Menabrea, on
Babbage's Analytical Engine. Though mechanical, this machine was an important step in the history
of computers; it was the design of a mechanical general-purpose computer. Babbage worked on it
for many years until his death in 1871. However, because of financial, political, and legal issues, the
engine was never built. The design of the machine was very modern; it anticipated the first
completed general-purpose computers by about 100 years.
When Ada translated the article, she added a set of notes which specified in complete detail a
method for calculating certain numbers with the Analytical Engine, which have since been recognized
by historians as the world's first computer program. She also saw possibilities in it that Babbage
hadn't: she realised that the machine could compose pieces of music. The computer programming
language 'Ada', used in some aviation and military programs, is named after her.
13
Cyber-bullying is a form of online harassment of a person. This problem was almost unheard of
only 15 years ago. However, more and more people are now using the Internet. This is creating
new problems for society. On the Internet, it is easier for people to hide their identity. This can
encourage bullies to use the Internet to engage in this kind of harmful behavior. There are many
ways that cyber-bullies use the Internet to hurt their victim.
Cyber-bullies might use social media sites like Facebook or Twitter to make hurtful comments
about another person. They may spread rumors or lies about someone, which can damage the
victim’s reputation. Cyber-bullies often pose as another person in order to try and make their
victim say something embarrassing. They might also try to trick their victim into believing they
are in a romantic relationship or friendship that is not real. Another form of cyber-bullying is to
post embarrassing photographs or videos of the victim without asking permission. These can
remain on the Internet for years so they are very distressing for victims.
This type of bullying is becoming more common, especially among young people. A 2010 CBS
News report showed that 42% of young Americans have been the victim of cyber-bullying. Some
victims of cyber-bullying have even committed suicide. Many governments are trying to make
online harassment illegal. Forty-five states in America have passed laws to prevent online
bullying. Canada is currently considering passing a strict law against cyber-bullying. It will take
some time before society learns how to cope with the potential drawbacks of this new technology.
15 - Scottish Independence
The majority of people in Scotland are in favour breaking away from the rest of the UK and
becoming independent, according to a poll taken just before the 300th anniversary of the Act
of Union, which united Scotland and England.
A pair of Acts of Parliament, passed in 1706 and 1707 that came into effect on May 1, 1707,
created Great Britain. The parliaments of both countries were dissolved, and replaced by a
new Parliament of Great Britain in Westminster, London.
The poll showed support for independence for Scotland is running at 51%. This is the first
time since 1998 that support for separation has passed 50%, and the first time since
devolution gave power to the country in 1999. Six months before elections for the Scottish
Parliament, these poll results come as good news to the Scottish Nationalist Party, who are
hoping to make progress against Labour and further the cause of an independent Scotland.
Many people have become disillusioned with devolution, and believe that the Scottish
Parliament has failed to deliver what they had hoped it would; only a tenth have no opinion.
In fact, only 39% of those polled want to keep things as they are.
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Grade 9
1 - Mark Rothko
Mark Rothko, one of the greatest painters of the twentieth century, was born in Daugavpils,
Latvia in 1903. His father emigrated to the United States, afraid that his sons would be drafted
into the Czarist army. Mark stayed in Russia with his mother and older sister; they joined the
family later, arriving in the winter of 1913, after a 12-day voyage.
Mark moved to New York in the autumn of 1923 and found employment in the garment trade
and took up residence on the Upper West Side. It was while he was visiting someone at the
Art Students League that he saw students sketching a nude model. According to him, this was
the start of his life as an artist. He was twenty years old and had taken some art lessons at
school, so his initial experience was far from an immediate calling.
In 1936, Mark Rothko began writing a book, which he never completed, about the similarities
in the children's art and the work of modern painters. The work of modernists, which was
influenced by primitive art, could, according to him, be compared to that of children in that
"child art transforms itself into primitivism, which is only the child producing a mimicry of
himself." In this same work, he said that "the fact that one usually begins with drawing is
already academic. We start with colour."
It was not long before his multiforms developed into the style he is remembered for; in 1949
Rothko exhibited these new works at the Betty Parsons Gallery. For critic Harold Rosenberg,
the paintings were a revelation. Rothko had, after painting his first multiform, secluded
himself to his home in East Hampton on Long Island, only inviting a very few people,
including Rosenberg, to view the new paintings. The discovery of his definitive form came at
a period of great grief; his mother Kate died in October 1948 and it was at some point during
that winter that Rothko chanced upon the striking symmetrical rectangular blocks of two to
three opposing or contrasting, yet complementary colours. As part of this new uniformity of
artistic vision, his paintings and drawings no longer had individual titles; from this point on
they were simply untitled, numbered or dated. However, to assist in distinguishing one work
from another, dealers would sometimes add the primary colours to the name. Additionally, for
the next few years, Rothko painted in oil only on large vertical canvasses. This was done to
overwhelm the viewer, or, in his words, to make the viewer feel enveloped within the picture.
On February 25, 1970, Oliver Steindecker, Rothko’s assistant, found him in his kitchen, lying
on the floor in front of the sink, covered in blood. His arms had been cut open with a razor.
The emergency doctor arrived on the scene minutes later to pronounce him dead as the result
of suicide; it was discovered during the autopsy that he had also overdosed on anti-
depressants. He was just 66 years old.
If you asked most people, they would say that smart machines have improved life. Not everyone
agrees, however. A few scientists are worried about the effect of using machines to do things that we
used to do for ourselves. For example, we don’t have to remember people’s contact details any
more, as our phones store this information. We can also find information instantly, via internet
search engines like Google. A few studies have shown, surprisingly, that people in their 50s and 60s
are better than teenagers at studying and memorizing information, because they’ve always worked
this way.
Technology has changed our expectations and made us very impatient. Now we want our news in
tiny soundbites, and get bored if we actually have to read or listen for more than a minute or two.
Scientists reported recently that the internet was changing how we think and learn. One author even
said that Google was making us stupid! It’s certainly true that we often do two or three things
simultaneously when we are online, and it’s harder and harder to focus on one thing. Maybe
technology is bad for our brains, and our memories, and we should stop depending on it all the time.
But if you tell me to give up my smartphone, sorry, I won’t!
3
In the past four decades, people around the world have become increasingly aware of the problem
of energy. Traditional energy sources such as oil and natural gas are dwindling rapidly. In many
countries, this has meant extracting natural resources at the expense of the environment. Recent
drilling for oil in places such as Alaska, for example, may harm wildlife in the area. In order to
solve this problem, scientists are looking for new ways to satisfy the world’s energy needs.
One possible solution to the energy problem is “solar paint” called “Sun-believable”. Scientists at
the University of Notre Dame have invented a paint that can produce energy. The paint has
energy-producing particles called “quantum dots” that convert sunlight into electricity. Despite
the promise of solar paint, there are still some problems. The paint only converts about 1 per cent
of light to energy. On the other hand, the paint is cheap to make and can be used anywhere.
Scientists are trying to make the paint more efficient in converting sunlight to energy.
Garbage and waste can also be changed to energy but there are some issues with this method.
This method, called “Waste to Energy” or WtE, has become popular in the last 10 years. In this
situation, solid waste is burned at very high temperatures to create energy. The problem is that
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this burning process causes pollution so it actually creates more problems. Some new energy
plants use a cleaner method of converting waste to energy. Japan has recently built many Waste
to Energy plants since the year 2000. However, these types of energy plants still emit carbon
dioxide (CO2), which contributes to other environmental problems. Waste to Energy plants
remain somewhat controversial among scientists and environmental activists.
Finally, the use of wind as a source of energy is becoming more popular recently. Floating wind
farms are large groups of big wind turbines (fans) that many countries are beginning to build.
Building the turbines on the ocean is more effective than building them on land because there
tends to be a steadier and stronger wind on the ocean. Building the farms on the ocean also helps
save valuable space in crowded countries. After the nuclear disaster at Fukushima in March of
2011, the Japanese government announced plans to build 80 floating wind turbines off the coast of
Fukushima by 2020.
4
The Omega Institute for Holistic Studies is one of America’s leading centres for personal growth and wellness.
Omega offers inspirational courses to improve your body and mind in nearly 200 acres of the beautiful Hudson
Valley, New York State. Omega is fully committed to creating a sustainable world for you and your families.
Whatever your needs, you will be able to satisfy them at the Omega Institute. Courses marked with an * are
also available in downtown Manhattan.
SPECIAL EVENTS
Psychology and the Art of Meditation
This offers practical guidelines on how to cope with the stress of modern life. There will be workshops on how
to deal with fear, conflict and anxiety. Emphasis is on how to tap into our inner resources and achieve personal
transformation.
This course is exclusively for health-care professionals, and those working within fields such as psychology,
psychiatry and social work who wish to enhance their therapeutic techniques.
Friday 7:30p.m.-10:00p.m.
REST RETREATS
Make spiritual matters your priority.
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Stay for any 6 nights and receive a 25% discount.
Choose from a wide range of activities, including meditation, yoga or try kayaking on the river. Select the spa
treatment that fits your needs. Or simply go for quiet walks by the lake or along country roads in the rolling hills
of the surrounding countryside. Optional demonstration classes on how to prepare healthy food and achieve
weight loss.
PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
Leadership and the Community. *
While it is undoubtedly true that change begins from deep inside us, this is a process which needs support and
encouragement. Once you are comfortable with yourself you will feel more at ease communicating with the
other opinion formers in your local community. Omega provides the training that you need. Omega will show
you how to maximise your own greatest strengths.
Spiritual Activism
We must appreciate our deepest needs and our connection to the Earth. The course promotes harmony and
cooperation. See how your gifts and talents make you special and how they can help you make a difference to
the peace of global communities.
CREATIVITY
Creativity allows us to express our inner selves. As Albert Einstein so rightly said, ‘play is the highest form of
research.’ Omega courses and workshops do far more than teach you new techniques. The aim is to help you
discover and develop the strength and self-confidence inside every human being.
Art Workshop
Shows you how to access the right side of your brain, your creative side, while increasing your technical skills.
All levels welcome.
Dance Workshop *
Connect with your body and learn new ways to express yourself artistically. Classes from beginners to
advanced.
Writing Retreats
Motivates you to begin that novel or short story you have always wanted to write. Offers advice on how to
develop plot and character. Some evidence of your own creative writing should be sent in with your application.
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Call 845.757.4321 or e-mail us at creativity@eomega.org
REGISTRATION
•Pay online by credit card
•Post registration form to: Omega Institute 15 Lakeside Drive Rhinebeck NY 1252-4953
1. Which of the following would you not be able to register for only one day?
How long do you have to make a good first impression on someone you have just met?
Psychologists have debated the answer to this question for a long time but new research has
begun to solve the issue. The answer is quite interesting.
Two Princeton psychologists, Alexander Todorov and Janine Willis, wanted to measure the
time that it takes for a person to make a judgment about someone they had never seen
before. They conducted an experiment where subjects were shown photographs of peoples’
faces for different lengths of time and then were asked questions about the person in the
photo. The photos were shown to the subjects for 100 milliseconds (1/10th of a second), 500
milliseconds (1/2 a second) and 1,000 milliseconds (1 second). Another set of people, called
a control group, was shown the same photographs of the same people but they could look at
the photos for as long as they wanted with no time constraints.
Afterwards, each subject in the experiment had to rate the person in the photo based on
attractiveness, likeability, competence, and trustworthiness. Todorov and Willis found in
their results that the subjects who looked at the photos for only 1/10th of a second made very
similar judgments about the people in the photos as the control group made. This was very
surprising and shows that first impressions are quickly made and usually lasting. Perhaps this
ability to quickly judge whether another person is a threat or a friend helped humans survive a
long time ago.
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Malcolm Gladwell, a famous American author, has also written a book about how people
make extremely quick decisions, also known as “snap judgments”. In his book, “Blink: The
Power of Thinking Without Thinking”, he examines how experts often make more accurate
decisions without having much time to think about them. In daily life, snap judgments are
also used in situations like gambling, speed dating, and predicting divorce. In his studies, he
found that having too much information can actually interfere with the ability to judge.
However, he also warns that there are times when snap judgments can lead to horrible
mistakes or prejudices.
1. According to the article, what new research have psychologists been conducting?
a) they have been trying to decide why people are so interested in making a good first
impression
b) they have been determining how long it takes for people to evaluate each other when
they meet for the first time
c) they have been determining why people appear to be more attracted to a certain type
of person
d) they have been working out which is the best way to make a good first impression
with every new encounter
6 - Smart Energy
The next few decades will see great changes in the way energy is supplied and used. In some
major oil producing nations, 'peak oil' has already been reached, and there are increasing fears
of global warming. Consequently, many countries are focusing on the switch to a low carbon
economy. This transition will lead to major changes in the supply and use of
electricity. [A] Firstly, there will be an increase in overall demand, as consumers switch from
oil and gas to electricity to power their homes and vehicles. [B] Secondly, there will be an
increase in power generation, not only in terms of how much is generated, but also how it is
generated, as there is growing electricity generation from renewable sources. [C] To meet
these challenges, countries are investing in Smart Grid technology. [D] This system aims to
provide the electricity industry with a better understanding of power generation and demand,
and to use this information to create a more efficient power network.
Smart Grid technology basically involves the application of a computer system to the
electricity network. The computer system can be used to collect information about supply and
demand and improve engineer's ability to manage the system. With better information about
electricity demand, the network will be able to increase the amount of electricity delivered per
unit generated, leading to potential reductions in fuel needs and carbon emissions. Moreover,
the computer system will assist in reducing operational and maintenance costs.
Smart Grid technology offers benefits to the consumer too. They will be able to collect real-
time information on their energy use for each appliance. Varying tariffs throughout the day
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will give customers the incentive to use appliances at times when supply greatly exceeds
demand, leading to great reductions in bills. For example, they may use their washing
machines at night. Smart meters can also be connected to the internet or telephone system,
allowing customers to switch appliances on or off remotely. Furthermore, if houses are fitted
with the apparatus to generate their own power, appliances can be set to run directly from the
on-site power source, and any excess can be sold to the grid.
With these changes comes a range of challenges. The first involves managing the supply and
demand. Sources of renewable energy, such as wind, wave and solar, are notoriously
unpredictable, and nuclear power, which is also set to increase as nations switch to alternative
energy sources, is inflexible. With oil and gas, it is relatively simple to increase the supply of
energy to match the increasing demand during peak times of the day or year. With alternative
sources, this is far more difficult, and may lead to blackouts or system collapse. Potential
solutions include investigating new and efficient ways to store energy and encouraging
consumers to use electricity at off-peak times.
A second problem is the fact that many renewable power generation sources are located in
remote areas, such as windy uplands and coastal regions, where there is currently a lack of
electrical infrastructure. New infrastructures therefore must be built. Thankfully, with
improved smart technology, this can be done more efficiently by reducing the reinforcement
or construction costs.
Although Smart Technology is still in its infancy, pilot schemes to promote and test it are
already underway. Consumers are currently testing the new smart meters which can be used
in their homes to manage electricity use. There are also a number of demonstrations being
planned to show how the smart technology could practically work, and trials are in place to
test the new electrical infrastructure. It is likely that technology will be added in 'layers',
starting with 'quick win' methods which will provide initial carbon savings, to be followed by
more advanced systems at a later date. Cities are prime candidates for investment into smart
energy, due to the high population density and high energy use. It is here where Smart
Technology is likely to be promoted first, utilising a range of sustainable power sources,
transport solutions and an infrastructure for charging electrically powered vehicles. The
infrastructure is already changing fast. By the year 2050, changes in the energy supply will
have transformed our homes, our roads and our behaviour.
Guinness World Records, (also known until 2000 as The Guinness Book of Records) is a
reference book published annually, containing a collection of world records, of both humans
and nature. The book itself holds a world record, as the best-selling book series of all time. It
is also one of the most frequently stolen books from public libraries in the United States.
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On May 4th, 1951, Sir Hugh Beaver, a manager of a beer company called Guinness Breweries,
went on a hunting trip with some friends in Ireland. He got into an argument about whether
the koshin golden plover or the grouse was the fastest bird in Europe. That evening, he
realized that it was impossible to find the answer in any books. Beaver knew that there must
be many other similar arguments but there was no book in the world which had the answer.
He realized that a book with the answers to these types of questions could be popular.
Sir Beaver paid two brothers to research and print the facts in a book called ‘The Guinness
Book of Records’. The company gave out 1,000 of the books for free. The first 197-page
edition became a bestseller in Britain by Christmas in 1955. The following year it was
released in the U.S., and it sold 70,000 copies.
Because the book became a surprise hit, Guinness eventually printed a new version of it in
October of every year. Guinness World Records’ headquarters is in London but it also has
offices in New York City and Tokyo. There is also a Guinness World Records Museum in
Orlando, Florida.
There are traditional records for competitions such as weightlifting or the longest time spent
playing video games. Guinness World Records used to publish records for smoking, drinking
alcohol, and eating but they have stopped because they are afraid that this is unhealthy for
people. Guinness World Records also publishes facts such as the highest paid actor (Johnny
Depp), fastest jump rope (Megumi Suzuki), and the smallest country in the world (Sealand).
Many records are also about the youngest person to do something. There is also a record for
the person holds the most records such as Ashrita Furman of New York, who held 100 records
in 2009.
In 2005, Guinness declared November 9th as ‘International Guinness World Records Day’ to
encourage breaking of world records. It was described as very successful. The 2006 version
was called “the world’s biggest international event,” with an estimated 100,000 people
participating in over 10 countries. The top 100 Guinness World Records are available on their
website.
9
History remembers winners. Only rarely do we commemorate those who came second. The story of
Robert Falcon Scott is one of those rare exceptions.
In January 1912, Scott and four others reached what is possibly the most remote place on Earth: the
South Pole. It was not Scott’s first voyage to the Antarctic; he led a successful mapping expedition
there between 1901 and 1904. In fact, it was the results of that expedition that enabled Ernest
Shackleton to attempt but narrowly fail to reach the Pole in 1909. To his credit, Shackleton did
succeed in returning all his men safely. Scott made it his mission in life to surpass Shackleton’s
achievement. Scott knew about a number of other expeditions being prepared at the same time as
his. The most important one was in Norway, by the veteran explorer Roald Amundsen, but Scott
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insisted that he would not sacrifice their scientific goals to win a race to the Pole. He even wrote in
his diary that if Amundsen got through first, he would deserve his luck.
Scott selected 65 men out of over 8,000 applicants for the expedition – including several members of
his own mapping trip and Shackleton’s aborted expedition. Scott’s team left Britain in June 1910, on
board the sailing ship Terra Nova. Reaching the Pole was only one of the expedition’s stated goals;
Scott also wanted to carry out geological explorations of the regions called King Edward VII Land and
Victoria Land. In fact, while completing this assignment in early February 1911, some of Scott’s men
ran into Amundsen’s team camping in a small bay east of Scott’s base. When Scott was told this, he
decided that they should proceed exactly as though this had not happened’. In the Antarctic summer
of 1911, Scott and his men set up a series of campsites with food and other provisions along the
planned route to the Pole. The campsite nearest to their destination was the One Ton Depot.
In October 1911, a team of 16 left the base, and headed for the Pole. At the beginning, they moved
more slowly than they had anticipated, but by late December they had made up for the lost time.
They had been stopping and resting at the previously established campsites, and leaving behind
some members of the team to start resupplying the camps for the return journey. When the small
final team of five explorers reached the South Pole on 17 January 1912, they thought they had won
the race. A day later, they came across Amundsen’s tent nearby, with a letter the Norwegian had
kindly asked Scott to deliver to the King of Norway. The Norwegians only beat the British by four
weeks, arriving at the Pole on 15 December 1911.
Scott’s party set out on their journey home across the ice. One of them died shortly afterwards as a
result of multiple hand and head injuries. The remaining survivors came up against extreme weather
conditions. They were unable to walk more than eight kilometres a day, and their supplies were fast
running out. In March, a fierce snowstorm stopped them completely, only 18 kilometres from One
Ton Depot. Scott made the final note in his diary on 29 March 1912: ‘I do not think we can hope for
any better things now. We shall stick it out to the end, but we are getting weaker, of course, and the
end cannot be far. It seems a pity but I do not think I can write more. R. Scott.’
A rescue expedition found their tent and the explorers’ frozen bodies on 12 November 1912. A large
memorial was erected near their base in January 1913, with a quotation from Tennyson’s poem
‘Ulysses’: ‘To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield’.
2 Read the article again. Are the following statements true (T), false (F), or not stated (NS)?
1 Scott didn’t know about other planned expeditions to reach the South Pole. c___
Airbus says it has turned the corner after a crisis connected to production problems and
turmoil in the boardroom at its A380 super-jumbo project that has gone on for the past year.
Speaking at the Paris air show, Louis Gallois, CEO of the European planemaker, said, "Airbus
is back."
Airbus, which announced a raft of orders on the first day of the show, is competing with
Boeing, its American rival, for the title of the largest planemaker in the world.
Boeing is expected to reveal the numbers of orders for its 787 Dreamliner soon. Airbus orders
unveiled on Monday included Qatar Airways confirming a $16bn order for 80 A350 Airbus
planes and ordering three A380 super-jumbos for about $750m.
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Boeing and Airbus are also competing for orders from aircraft leasing firms. Orders from
these companies - who rank highly among the biggest global buyers of aircraft - are often
regarded as an indication of how successful a model will be in the long term.
Airbus also secured orders from US Airways that are worth $10bn for 22 of its A350 jets, 60
A320s and ten of its A330-200 wide-body planes.
A few months ago, Airbus unveiled a major cost-cutting programme aiming to reduce the
workforce in Europe by 10,000, as well as announcing a group restructuring. "I can tell you
with full confidence that Airbus is back and fully back, as you have started noting yesterday
as demonstrated by our first day announcements," said Mr Gallois on the second day of the air
show.
However, Boeing also announced a deal with General Electric (GE) on the show's first day.
GE's commercial aviation services placed an order for six 777 Boeing freighters valued at
around $1.4bn, to be delivered in the last quarter of 2008.
A Wall Street Journal website report, quoting the Delta operating chief yesterday said that
Delta Air Lines were on the verge of ordering as many as 125 Boeing 787 jetliners by the end
of this year. However, a spokesman for Delta later said that it had been having conversations
"with several aircraft makers" and that "no final decision" had been made on future fleet
purchases.
11 - Visa Applications
If you wish to come to the United Kingdom, either as a visitor or a student, you may need to
apply for a visa. Visas vary according to your age, the length of your stay and your level of
English study.
The following visa types are available:
Child Student
Child Visitor
Adult Student
Student Visitor
Prospective Student
The UK operates a points-based system which will decide whether or not you can apply for a
visa. You need 40 points in order to apply for a visa. You will obtain 30 points if you have
confirmation from the college, university or school that you have been accepted on a course.
Your chosen place of studies must be registered on the UK Border Agency list of sponsors.
You can obtain a list by clicking on the link below.
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You will need to earn a further 10 by demonstrating that you cover the cost of your study
fees and living costs. In doing so, you can rest assured that you will avoid financial difficulties
while you are studying.
If you wish to extend your study experience in the UK, you will need to pass a further points-
based assessment to ensure that you have been accepted on another course and that you
can afford to pay the fees and living costs.
To make your UK study experience even richer, you may be eligible for a work and study
visa. Getting a job while you are studying can improve your language skills and enhance your
CV by showing that you are flexible, team-oriented and well-organised. You will also be able
to get a reference from your employer which will help you gain employment in the future.
Before accepting a job, you must find out whether your visa allows you to work in the UK,
and the maximum number of hours you can work each week from the UK Border Agency.
Most UK places of study have a career service which will help you to access job listings, write
a CV or application form and prepare for a job interview.
To work in the UK you will need a National Insurance number. This number is used to deduct
money from your earnings to fund benefits for the unemployed, incapacitated and retired.
To obtain a national insurance number, you will need to attend an interview. You can make
an appointment for an interview by calling 0845 600 0643 during usual office hours. You will
need to take proof of identity, proof of your right to work in the UK and written proof of
your job offer. You may start work before your number is issued as long as your employer
deducts the appropriate national insurance contributions from your pay.
1.
Each of the short paragraphs below gives information about the five types of visa A-E. Read
each paragraph and choose which of the five links would contain this information. There is
one paragraph that you do not need.
paragraph 1. If you have already completed a course of study in the UK and do not intend to
study further, you can apply for this visa to extend your stay. This visa allows you to work in
the UK for a further 6 months.
paragraph 2. If you are under the age of 17 and wish to study for less than six months, you
can apply for this visa. If you wish to extend your course of study, you may not swap to a
student visa while you are in the UK. You must return to your home country and do so there.
paragraph 3. Students in post-16 education can apply for this visa. This visa is suitable for
students attending courses for over six months. Holders of this visa may be eligible to work
in the UK.
paragraph 4. Students over the age of 18 who wish to study for up to six months can apply
for this visa. This visa does not allow students to work in the UK. Students may only extend
their visa or switch to a student visa by returning to their home country.
paragraph 5. You can apply for this visa if you are between the ages of 4 and 15 and intend
to attend a full-time, fee-paying independent school for a period of over six months or more.
16 and 17 year olds may attend part-time, fee-paying establishments.
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paragraph 6. If you want to come to the UK before choosing your course of study, you can
apply for this visa. You will need to start your course within 6 months of arrival. You may
switch to an adult or child student visa while in the UK without returning to your home
country.
12
One of the biggest scientific research projects in history is the Human Genome Project (HGP).
This is an attempt to map how the very basics of life fit and work together to create human DNA.
Knowing this may help us better understand human evolution and could provide significant
medical benefits, such as the development of molecular medicine.
The roots of the HGP are in late 1984 when several US government departments held a meeting to
discuss the possibility of studying the human genome. They had hoped to use DNA analysis to
examine possible genetic changes in atomic bomb survivors. The government approved the
project four years later. Two years later, it began in earnest as the government published a plan to
map out the human genome over the next five years. The entire project was estimated to take
fifteen years total to complete.
The project’s scope was very wide and included international partnerships with many countries,
including the United Kingdom, Japan, Australia, and France. The HGP was not only established
for the purposes of strictly scientific research but also to examine the legal and ethical questions
about the use of DNA. A separate program, ELSI (Ethical Legal and Social Implications) was
launched in 1990 for this purpose. The HGP’s other goals include developing and improving
technology as well as collecting and managing information (often called bioinformatics).
The duration and scale of the HGP are not surprising, especially considering the complex nature
of DNA sequencing. This is the process of understanding how DNA is arranged and organized at
the atomic level. DNA contains the genetic information that determines how life develops. The
basic units within DNA are base pairs of adenine, thymine, cytosine, and guanine. Because of the
many millions of base pairs in human DNA and the limits of technology, DNA sequencing can
take a long time to perform.
The HGP was completed in 2003. The first study about the HGP was published a year later. This
indicated that the HGP was very accurate in its sequencing attempts. The genome sequence is
freely available on the Internet for download. Although the project has finished, scientists have
barely begun to grasp the practical and scientific implications of all this new information. It is
possible that this could lead to potential breakthroughs in areas of medical research for disease
prevention and cures. It may also shape how scientists examine issues in evolution. For example,
they could use the HGP information to look into how life changed over millions of years at a
molecular level.
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1 According to the article, when did the US government approve the Human Genome Project?
A 1984
B 1988
C 1990
D 2003
A Throughout history, there have been instances in which people have been unwilling to
accept new theories, despite startling evidence. This was certainly the case when
Copernicus published his theory - that the earth was not the centre of the universe.
B Until the early 16th century, western thinkers believed the theory put forward by Ptolemy,
an Egyptian living in Alexandria in about 150 A.D. His theory, which was formulated by
gathering and organizing the thoughts of the earlier thinkers, proposed that the universe
was a closed space bounded by a spherical envelope beyond which there was nothing. The
earth, according to Ptolemy, was a fixed and immobile mass, located at the centre of the
universe. The sun and the stars, revolved around it.
C The theory appealed to human nature. Someone making casual observations as they
looked into the sky might come to a similar conclusion. It also fed the human ego. Humans
could believe that they were at the centre of God's universe, and the sun and stars were
created for their benefit.
D Ptolemy's theory, was of course, incorrect, but at the time nobody contested it. European
astronomers were more inclined to save face. Instead of proposing new ideas, they
attempted to patch up and refine Ptolemy's flawed model. Students were taught using a
book called The Sphere which had been written two hundred years previously. In short,
astronomy failed to advance.
E In 1530, however, Mikolaj Kopernik, more commonly known as Copernicus, made an
assertion which shook the world. He proposed that the earth turned on its axis once per day,
and travelled around the sun once per year. Even when he made his discovery, he was
reluctant to make it public, knowing how much his shocking revelations would disturb the
church. However, George Rheticus, a German mathematics professor who had become
Copernicus's student, convinced Copernicus to publish his ideas, even though Copernicus, a
perfectionist, was never satisfied that his observations were complete.
F Copernicus's ideas went against all the political and religious beliefs of the time. Humans,
it was believed, were made in God's image, and were superior to all creatures. The natural
world had been created for humans to exploit. Copernicus's theories contradicted the ideas
of all the powerful churchmen of the time. Even the famous playwright William Shakespeare
feared the new theory, pronouncing that it would destroy social order and bring chaos to the
world. However, Copernicus never had to suffer at the hands of those who disagreed with
his theories. He died just after the work was published in 1543.
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G However, the scientists who followed in Copernicus's footsteps bore the brunt of the
church's anger. Two other Italian scientists of the time, Galileo and Bruno, agreed
wholeheartedly with the Copernican theory. Bruno even dared to say that space was
endless and contained many other suns, each with its own planets. For this, Bruno was
sentenced to death by burning in 1600. Galileo, famous for his construction of the
telescope, was forced to deny his belief in the Copernican theories. He escaped capital
punishment, but was imprisoned for the rest of his life.
H In time however, Copernicus's work became more accepted. Subsequent scientists and
mathematicians such as Brahe, Kepler and Newton took Copernicus's work as a starting
point and used it to glean further truths about the laws of celestial mechanics.
I The most important aspect of Copernicus' work is that it forever changed the place of man
in the cosmos. With Copernicus' work, man could no longer take that premier position
which the theologians had immodestly assigned him. This was the first, but certainly not the
last time in which man would have to accept his position as a mere part of the universe, not
at the centre of it.
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colours convey. How to make sense of all of these elements? How can one establish an
analytical model facilitating the study of images and coloured objects? No researcher, no
method, has yet been able to resolve these problems, because among the numerous facts
pertaining to colour, a researcher tends to select those facts that support his study and to
conveniently forget those that contradict it. This is clearly a poor way to conduct research.
And it is made worse by the temptation to apply to the objects and images of a given
historical period information found in texts of that period. The proper method — at least in
the first phase of analysis - is to proceed as do palaeontologists (who must study cave
paintings without the aid of texts): by extrapolating from the images and the objects
themselves a logic and a system based on various concrete factors such as the rate of
occurrence of particular objects and motifs, their distribution and disposition. In short, one
undertakes the internal structural analysis with which any study of an image or coloured
object should begin.
The third set of problems is philosophical: it is wrong to project our own conceptions and
definitions of colour onto the images, objects and monuments of past centuries. Our
judgements and values are not those of previous societies (and no doubt they will change
again in the future). For the writer-historian looking at the definitions and taxonomy of
colour, the danger of anachronism is very real. For example, the spectrum with its natural
order of colours was unknown before the seventeenth century, while the notion of primary
and secondary- colours did not become common until the nineteenth century. These are not
eternal notions but stages in the ever-changing history of knowledge.
I have reflected on such issues at greater length in my previous work, so while the present
book does address certain of them, for the most part it is devoted to other topics. Nor is it
concerned only with the history of colour in images and artworks - in any case that area still
has many gaps to be filled. Rather, the aim of this book is to examine all kinds of objects in
order to consider the different facets of the history of colour and to show how far beyond the
artistic sphere this history reaches. The history of painting is one thing; that of colour is
another, much larger, question. Most studies devoted to the history of colour err in
considering only the pictorial, artistic or scientific realms. But the lessons to be learned from
colour and its real interest lie elsewhere.
1) What problem regarding colour does the writer explain in the first paragraph?
A Our view of colour is strongly affected by changing fashion.
B Analysis is complicated by the bewildering number of natural colours.
C Colours can have different associations in different parts of the world.
D Certain popular books have dismissed colour as insignificant.
Vocabulary
Vocabulary - grade 7
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22. I talk to my friend in the USA on __________ and I can see her, too!
A. networking B. Skype C. e-card
31. The prisoner knew he had _____ a mistake and would regret it forever.
A- got B- taken C- done D- made
32. The boy _____ that he had had anything to do with the break- in.
A- refused B- denied C- objected D- rejected
33. Suddenly, someone shouted, ' Thief! ' and the man quickly _____ on a motorbike.
A- took in B- made off C- came forward D- handed in
36. Things started to _____ wrong for the robbers when the alarm went off.
A- take B- have C- go D- come
38. The doctor _____ the cut on my knee and said it had completely healed up.
A- investigated B- researched C- examined D- looked into
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A- recipe B- prescription C- receipt D- paper
40. My feet are _____. I guess my new shoes are a bit tight.
A- hurt B- pain C- ache D- sore
41. I was shocked when I crashed the car, but at least I wasn't _____.
A- injured B- damaged C- broken D- spoilt
42. Diana looks terribly _____. You don't think she's ill, do you?
A- slim B- thin C- slender D- slight
44. I was very sad when the vet said he'd have to _____ Gertie, our Labrador.
A- put down B- pull through C- feel up to D- wear off
45. Going on this diet has really _____ me good. I've lost weight and I feel fantastic!
A- made B- taken C- done D- had
47. They spent the day walking _____ the river bank.
A- across B- above C- along
48. The helicopter flew _____ the town and we saw people in their gardens.
A- on top of B- along C- over
50. The old man fell _____ bed and hurt his arm.
A- away from B- in front of C- out of
51. I heard the police officer say, ' Move away _____ the car.'
A- of B- from C- out
52. When you pay for something, you usually get a _____.
A- Recipe B- receipt C- bill
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54. Would you _____ this letter to the post office, please?
A- send B- take C- bring
57. I saw a very good _____ advertised in the paper this week.
A- job B- work C- occupation
61. His parents don' _____ him to stay out later than 10.30 at night.
A- allow B- let C- suggest
62. It was very difficult to see the road through the _____ fog.
A- thick B- strong C- deep
65. Please be careful with that glass dish. It's really _____.
A- precious B- popular C- patterned
66. You can't change _____ coins at the bank. You can only change notes.
A- strange B- foreign C- different
67. She felt very _____ when she didn't get the job.
A- upset B- shy C- unfriendly
70. I love _____ food with lots of pepper in it but it always makes me thirsty.
A- heated B- spicy C- lively
76. My sister and I are always quarrelling. We just don't seem to _____.
A- get off B- get together C- get on D- get by
77. A lot of single parents find it difficult to _____ their children and do a job.
A- grow up B- take up C- develop D- bring up
78. We _____ to inform you that this flight will be delayed for five hours.
A- sorry B- regret C- apologise D- pity
79. Everyone should _____ this charity. They're doing a lot of good work in developing countries.
A- agree B- support C- stand up D- supply
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84. The train now standing at _____ seven has just arrived from Brighton.
A- station B- platform C- lane D- path
85. In AD 79, the volcano Vesuvius ______________ the Italian city of Pompeii.
a) flowed b) erupted c) passed d) destroyed
86. Raul and Francesca will ____________ on a name for their child when it is born
a) decide b) consider c) speak d) choose
87. Mike Newman is ______________ , but he once drove a car at 232km/h and broke a world
record.
a) brief b) blind c) rapid d) early
88. The professor will be _______________ for the next few days, so come back in the middle of
next week.
a) closed b) intelligent c) busy d) strange
89. In China it is _____________ to put a person's business card immediately into your bag or
wallet.
a) annoyed b) helpless c) impossible d) rude
90. The name of your sister is _______________, but I don't think I know her.
a) powerful b) possible c) known d) familiar
91. He ____________ his ticket to Bahrain two months before the day of the flight.
a) imagined b) raised c) booked d) shopped
92. Mary ______________ yesterday with her family at her uncle's house in Yalova.
a) spent b) went c) crossed d) travelled
93. We went to the Hotel Extra because of Lennox's ______________, but it was really horrible
there.
a) accommodation b) recommendation c) education d) revision
94. Shark skin is _____________, so people wear gloves when they touch it.
a) tight b) rough c) nervous d) bitter
96. David is going to ______________ a website on his hometown of Willshare fo the Internet.
a) deliver b) grow c) create d) discover
97. There is still no ____________on school uniforms between the students and the school
administration.
a) fashion b) agreement c) distance d) answer
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98. Tarek ________________ my DVD of Shrek 2 last week, but I want it back for this weekend.
a) borrowed b) sold c) filmed d) brought
99. Gareth ________________ buys the groceries, but he won't today, because he is ill in bed.
a) probably b) nearly c) finally d) usually
100. These plastic sandals won't be very _____________ for our trekking holiday in the
mountains.
a) experienced b) fit c) careful d) suitable
101. Azra is in her last year at university. She is going to _______________ next summer.
a) increase b) graduate c) please d) study
102. The mayor gave an interesting ____________ to the question about the new houses
next to the sea.
a) response b) receipt c) reduction d) result
103. Peter Jackson became ___________ worldwide with his three Lord of the Rings films.
a) curious b) faithful c) famous d) large
105. Beatrice's husband is in Norway, but they _____________ every day through the
Internet.
a) communicate b) skate c) search d) introduce
107. The students _____________ very badly in Mr Jones's class, but they are good in Ms.
Polat's.
a) examine b) behave c) miss d) waste
109. The virus _____________ very quickly to the other students in Sasha's college.
a) escaped b) murdered c) collected d) spread
110. Real Betis ____________ to beat Barcelona tomorrow, but Barcelona is playing very
well this year.
a) tries b) hopes c) matches d) hits
111. Pizza ___________ like a good idea. I'll call and order one in a few minutes.
a) tastes b) sounds c) delicious d) hears
112. Strong winds ____________ Japan from two different Mongol invasions.
a) sailed b) blew c) protected d) attacked
113. Tell me the rest of the story tonight, OK? I'm in a ___________ at the moment. Sorry.
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a) platform b) speed c) need d) hurry
114. The Spanish artist Goya lost his hearing and became ___________ later in life.
a) faint b) deaf c) sight d) soundless
115. Professor Jones ______________ Ria for her excellent work on sleeping disorders.
a) praised b) thought c) followed d) marked
116. Yvonne ____________ Nick some money last week, but he isn't going to pay her
back.
a) loaned b) borrowed c) saved d) sold
118. I became very scared last night when two men ______________ me in a dark alley.
a) walked b) murdered c) approached d) called
119. They are going to have a long __________. They aren't going to get married for the
next 4 years.
a) feeling b) wedding c) connection d) engagement
120. Rebecca is very ________. She doesn't study, but she always takes top marks.
a) average b) clever c) serious d) useful
121. A: Are you _____ you saw Jane on the ferry? B: No, but I think it was her.
a) sure b) safe c) real d) glad
122. Matthias was ____________ the bank when the masked robbers shot him in the
head.
a) dying b) surrounding c) guarding d) feeling
123. The chairman __________________ supported his manager when the matches were
going badly.
a) shortly b) easily c) faithfully d) equally
124. The Bengal famine of 1943 was _____________ . Over 3 million people lost their lives
because of it.
a) depressed b) terrible c) troubled d) careful
125. Sally ____________ the smoke in the corridor and immediately phoned for the fire
brigade.
a) invited b) suspected c) gathered d) noticed
127. Rick always leaves his clothes on the floor and he never puts his CDs away. He is very
__________.
a) messy b) guilty c) disgusted d) aimless
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128. One of the most important __________ in modern Lebanon was the Civil War of
1975-1990.
a) opinions b) escapes c) events d) victories
129. Jonathan became ___________ when he saw the spider moving towards him.
a) slimy b) scared c) innocent d) bloody
130. Every time the tram gets here, it is very _________, so it is difficult to get on it.
a) occupied b) doubtful c) shut d) crowded
131. Somebody in this room committed the __________. I just don't know who.
a) crime b) occurrence c) kill d) killer
132. Mick has decorated his house very __________. The living room is beautiful.
a) fortunately b) tastefully c) politely d) annually
133. I am not buying anything from him again. He has _______ the prices for the second
time this month.
a) climbed b) raised c) traded d) lifted
134. Some people believe that Napoleon ___________ from his imprisonment on the
island of St Helena.
a) poisoned b) murdered c) escaped d) ran
Vocabulary - grade 8
1. You need a passport to cross the ________ between Mexico and the United States.
A- edge B- line C- border D- rim
3. When you ______ your destination, your tour guide will meet you at the airport.
A- arrive B- get C- reach D- achieve
11. Make sure you _____ a hotel before you come to our island, especially in the summer.
A- book B- keep C- put D- take
13. Three people were captured at the _____ today trying to get into the country.
A- line B- equator C- border D- edge
14. There's a fantastic _____ from the top of the Empire State Building.
A- view B- sight C- appearance D- look
15. Once we get to the hotel, let's just _____ quickly and then do a bit of sightseeing.
A- set down B- make up C- check in D- turn up
16. I'm going to ask for directions because I think we've _____ our way.
A- missed B- misplaced C- mistaken D- lost
17. We usually do go by train, even though the car _____ is a lot quicker.
A- travel B- journey C- trip D- voyage
18. Passengers requiring a special meal during the flight should inform the airline in ____ .
A- ahead B- front C- advance D- forward
21. After a hard match, United managed to _____ with City, 1-1.
A- equal B- exact C- draw D- score
22. In this game, the players _____ it in turns to throw the dice.
A- take B- do C- make D- have
23. It's nice to win, but the important thing is to _____ your best.
A- make B- take C- have D- do
24. Just ask them if you can play and I'm sure they'll let you _____ .
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A- take up B- join in C- go off D- take to
26. Do you know who _____ the fact that sound travels in waves?
A- invented B- developed C- discovered D- found
29. Ten million text messages are sent on _____ every minute.
A- normal B- common C- general D- average
30. Once they've finished the extension to the _____ , there'll be room for them to take on a lot
more workers.
A- manufacturing B- trade C- industry D- factory
32. I've _____ it in at the mains but it still doesn't seem to work.
A- worked B- turned C- narrowed D- plugged
34. Mary seems to go out with a different _____ of friends almost every night.
A- group B- band C- company D- collection
35. People can become very _____ when they are stuck in traffic for a long time.
A- Nervous B- bad-tempered C- stressful D- pressed
36. More and more people are living into _____ age and it's a serious social problem.
A- high B- ancient C- far D- old
38. Most _____ people have no idea what it's like to be famous.
A- usual B- ordinary C- typical D- medium
39. When my parents got divorced, my best friend was very _____ and listened to all my
problems.
A- likeable B- amusing C- sympathetic D- enjoyable
40. Rita's very _____ and easily gets upset when people criticise her.
A- level-headed B- sensitive C- sensible D- open-minded
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41. Police were called in when the _____ of people began to get violent.
A- crowd B- company C- audience D- herd
42. My dad says he once met Robbie Williams when he was still _____ .
A- unknown B- hidden C- infamous D- unrelated
43. This fascinating book covers some of the most _____ crimes of the twentieth century.
A- unknown B- hidden C- covered D- infamous
45. Ivan tells me he really _____ himself at your barbecue last week.
A- pleased B- played C- enjoyed D- interested
46. I know we had an argument, but now I'd quite like to _____ .
A- look down B- make up C- fall out D- bring up
47. Harry and Sam both denied that the fight was their _____ .
A- blame B- cause C- criticism D- fault
48. The curtain went up, the _____ grew silent and the actors on stage began to speak.
A- crowd B- congregation C- jury D- audience
49. The doctor _____ the cut on my knee and said it had completely healed up.
A- investigated B- researched C- examined D- looked into
51. My feet are _____ . I guess my new shoes are a bit tight.
A- hurt B- pain C- ache D- sore
52. I was shocked when I crashed the car, but at least I wasn't _____ .
A- Injured B- damaged C- broken D- spoilt
53. Diana looks terribly _____ . You don't think she's ill, do you?
A- slim B- thin C- slender D- slight
55. I was very sad when the vet said he'd have to _____ Gertie, our labrador.
A- put down B- pull through C- feel up to D- wear off
56. Going on this diet has really _____ me good. I've lost weight and I feel fantastic.
A- made B- taken C- done D- had
57. I was very proud when I was told that I'd been made into a _____ .
A- pupil B- student C- prefect D- classmate
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58. With a little hard work, I'm sure you'll _____ a lot this year.
A- reach B- succeed C- achieve D- qualify
61. I think you need to _____ your ideas more clearly so that the reader doesn't get confused.
A- dawn on B- get on with C- set out D- give in
63. There's been a _____ in Germany and a village was completely destroyed.
A- flood B- drizzle C- shower D- smog
66. It's sunny, but there's a very cold _____ so don't forget your coat.
A- blowing B- air C- wind D- gas
67. If you ask me, _____ waste is a much bigger problem than ordinary household waste.
A- industrial B- business C- working D- employer
68. As towns grow, they tend to destroy the surrounding _____ areas.
A- urban B- commercial C- land D- rural
69. Jill put her wellington boots on and, as soon as it stopped raining, went out
to play in the _____ .
A- reservoirs B- lakes C- puddles D- ponds
70. This car is very _____ as it goes so far on one tank of petrol.
A- financial B- economical C- costly D- endless
71. I can't believe how cheap these shorts were. They were a real _____!
A- bargain B- sale C- discount D- offer
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74. I paid the assistant and took the books but then stupidly left the bookshop without waiting
for my _____ .
A- cash B- fee C- refund D- change
76. I didn't find a new top but at _____ I got some new jeans.
A- less B- the less C- least D- the least
77. I've got a/an _____ for the school play tomorrow. I really hope I get a main part!
A- rehearsal B- practice C- audition D- performance
78. Did you read that _____ of the new Lloyd-Rice musical? It said it was awful!
A- review B- criticism C- report D- summary
80. We really _____ ourselves at the party! Thanks so much for inviting us!
A- entertained B- had fun C- enjoyed D- occupied
81. Ellie does a-an _____ each week for the local newspaper. It's usually quite funny.
A- comic B- comedian C- animation D- cartoon
82. The water park we went to yesterday was fantastic, but the entrance _____ was a bit
expensive.
A- ticket B- fee C- charge D- cost
83. Vanilla Sky _____ Tom Cruise, Penelope Cruz and Cameron Diaz.
A- acts B- plays C- stars D- contains
84. When you're learning to play a musical instrument, it's important to _____ for an hour or two
every day.
A- rehearse B- practise C- perform D- train
85. The play wasn't supposed to be a comedy, but everyone started laughing when some of the
_____ fell over and hit one of the actors.
A- scenery B- scenes C- stages D- acts
86. Louis de Bernieres' _____ Captain Corelli's Mandolin, which is set on the Greek island of
Cephallonia during the Second World War, was an international bestseller.
A- fiction B- account C- anecdote D- novel
87. Have you _____ the joke about the guy who fell off a 20-metre-high ladder? He was fine- he
fell of the bottom rung!
A- listened to B- overheard C- heard D- paid attention to
88. Being the conductor of a large _____ is an extremely demanding job. You have to make sure
about a hundred musicians are playing in time.
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A- group B- band C- company D- orchestra
89. Could you _____ in the paper and see what's on TV tonight?
A- see B- watch C- look D- examine
90. I'm reading a _____ set in Greece during the Second World War.
A- novel B- fiction C- literature D- writing
91. Harry kept us _____ throughout the journey with his non-stop jokes.
A- enjoyed B- entertained C- laughed D- pleasured
92. I never read _____ of films as I don't trust the critics' opinions.
A- reviews B- criticisms C- articles D- investigations
93. How did your _____ go? Do you think you'll be offered the main part?
A- audit B- auditorium C- audience D- audition
96. I didn't like this album at first but it's really starting to ____ on me now.
A- grow B- raise C- develop D- increase
97. Could you wipe the table with a damp _____ , please!
A- clothe B- clothing C- cloth D- clothes
100. That's the most incredible _____ of art I've ever seen!
A- job B- creation C- brand D- work
102. I need a funny _____ for the fancy-dress party. Any ideas!
A- dress B- uniform C- suit D- costume
103. Tim forgot to use clothes _____ and all his clean clothes fell off the line into the mud.
A- pegs B- clips C- hooks D- pins
104. The _____ for this position starts at thirty thousand euros per year.
A- wage B- payment C- salary D- tip
105. After working at the same factory for thirty years, my grandfather was looking
forward to his _____ .
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A- overtime B- pension C- charity D- allowance
106. Some people _____ to London every day from as far away as Leeds
A- connect B- commute C- correspond D- commence
107. Most governments tax people on the amount they _____ each year.
A- win B- gain C- earn D- benefit
108. Shelley disagreed with the board's decision and so she _____ and went to work for
another company.
A- retired B- fired C- sacked D- resigned
109. When the factory closed, over a hundred people were _____ redundant.
A- done B- taken C- given D- made
110. Here at Weatherby's , we provide all our _____ members, from senior management
down, with regular training.
A- staff B- crew C- crowd D- firm
111. Ed _____ at the clock and realised he was late for the meeting.
A- glimpsed B- observed C- glanced D- watched
112. What's the entrance _____ for the outdoor music festival?
A- ticket B- fare C- price D- fee
114. I want to take these jeans back because they're too small but I can't find the
_____ anywhere.
A- recipe B- receipt C- receiver D- reception
115. I'll pick up a _____ on the way home and then we won't have to cook.
A- takeaway B- fast food C- delivery D- microwave
117. Living on a farm in the middle of nowhere, ours is about the most _____ lifestyle you
can have!
A- urban B- suburban C- rural D- municipal
118. Will was made _____ three months ago and is still looking for a job.
A- sacked B- fired C- retired D- redundant
119. The audience showed their _____ by giving the orchestra a standing ovation.
A- entertainment B- review C- appreciation D- audition
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Vocabulary - grade 9
1) When we _________ at the airport, Jenna’s flight had already landed and she was waiting for
us in the café.
2) Beatrice said that working as a ________ is enjoyable in every aspect, apart from the fact
that you have to work outdoors.
4) When the weather was nice, she liked to go for a walk in the early morning _________.
6) Joe Donne has been ____ with murder and is expected to serve many years in prison.
7) The hijacker said he would release all the ________ if the police satisfied his demands.
a. in b. on c. at d. into
9) Bill and Denise decided to get married but they haven’t __________ a date yet.
10) Everyone likes my cooking. Gerard is just the exception_______ the rule.
a. of b. in c. to d. from
11) Vivian had a very busy year, because she was_____ in several theatrical performances.
12) Although they were told to keep their voices ___________, they were still very noisy.
14) The windmills were such an __________ sight that tourists could not stop taking pictures of
them.
16) The financial scandal, which was revealed right before the Election Day, received a lot of
________ .
17) Some of the _________ of working for this company are private health insurance, an annual
19) I would love to stay and chat, but I am in ________because my train leaves in about an hour.
20) The doctor said my mother’s blood sugar levels were perfectly ____________.
21) The government is planning to ______________ a satellite into space next month.
22) Being a ____________ figure can often mean that you have to give up your personal life.
23) Bob was going to propose to Alexandra last night, but in the end he ____________ and
decided to wait a bit longer.
a. turned a blind eye b. was all ears c. broke a leg d. got cold feet
25) Although I don’t like using credit cards, they come _____________ if you run out of cash.
26) To meet the deadline we must stop wasting time and get .
a. up b. back c. in d. round
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28) Her parents have been putting a lot of on her to get a part-time job.
29) They all agreed that Stephanie might not be perfect, but has a lot of .
30) Charles was not sure which profession to enter, but finally _________ for law.
31) Bacteria can't be seen by _______ eye. You have to use a microscope.
34) With the weekend free, we decided to take a two-day _______to the nearest island.
35) Having spent the last twenty years visiting every corner of the world, I can say that travel
certainly___________ the mind
36) It is becoming quite common for older people to take a travelling _________with them on
holiday.
37) The main attraction for most tourists is the ancient __________in the southern part of the
island.
38) She had never been to Prague before, and she in love with It straight away.
39) They couldn't wait to go for a swim in the crystal- __________water of the small bay
40) The ________from our hotel room over the tiny mountain village was out of this world.
41) The sea was so ________ that day that many passengers became quite ill as the ship rolled
from side to side
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42) Having worked non-stop for almost six months, he decided to take a(n)______ break and
43) The soldiers were exhausted and couldn't move back any further, so they had no choice but
to ____________.
44) After long months of negotiations, the two sides finally signed a peace ____________.
45) The police ________the protesters and brought them to the police station.
46) The ___________ came on board and inspected all the sailors on the ship.
47) I don't think he is a very good leader because he has no control _________the soldiers in his
company.
A over B on C in D at
48) There were people protesting here earlier, but now everything's fine: it's all _______control.
49) I'm sorry, but there's nothing I can do about the situation - it's __________my control.
50) The army camp is beyond that mountain. There's _______ chance that we'll reach it before
nightfall.
A out B on C off D up
53) Many people want to __________ their history back as far as they can and discover who their
ancestors were.
54) Very occasionally, an outstanding person comes along who changes the_______ of history.
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55) Amelia Earhart ________ history in 1928 when she became the first woman to fly across the
Atlantic
56) The Louvre Museum in Paris is ________ in history: it used to be the palace of the French
kings
57) You really should buy a DVD player! You have to move with the __________.
60) He stood on the __________of the ship and watched the seagulls dive for fish.
61) The brother and sister were _______ over who would get to inherit the beach house.
62) Guests are requested to state their ________for smoking or non-smoking accommodation
upon booking.
63) The city was under ___________for six months before it finally fell.
66) The ceiling-high bookcase swayed for a few seconds, then crashed to the floor with a
______________noise.
67) Use the____________ to drain the spaghetti, but make sure that you do it quickly enough so
that it doesn't go cold.
68) After congratulating his team, the coach left, allowing the players to let their________ down
for a while.
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A hair B heads C hearts D souls
69) Turn to page 24 to find out at____________ a which courses are available to you.
71) Sleep is _____________ to our health, and lack of it can lead to many illnesses.
A in B at C of D on
76) The teacher gave out the homework assignments and then __________ the class.
77) Alex wanted to know how much he would have to pay for his university ___________.
79) Helena was delighted when her application to Oxford University was ___________.
80) Kate took her school _______ home to her parents and they were pleased to see that she
had done well that term.
81) Our language school will ______ intensive courses for those who want to take the FCE exam
earlier.
82) Now that I've got my degree I will apply for a teaching ____________
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83) The teacher went to prepare her lesson and pick up her register from the_______
84) David was very disappointed when he was told that he had the course.
85) I recommend that you get a private ___________ to help you with your Maths.
86) The children at the local primary school are working on a ________related to the
environment.
87) She loves reading and always has her _________in a book.
88) Technology has led to robots replacing factory workers on car _______ lines.
91) Keep everything on disc. That way if the computer ________you won't lose all your work.
92) Increased traffic ________ has led some local councils to start charging drivers to enter city
centres.
93) Many parts of the world are experiencing __________ weather conditions as a result of
global warming.
94) The area is well served by a wide range of fast food _________ranging from burger bars to
Indian takeaways.
95) Read through the contract, and if you wish to _____________any changes, let me know.
96) My sisterlives so far away weonly see each other once in a ___________.
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A long time B dark night C red planet D blue moon
97) It's sad to say, but very few relationships nowadays stand the ___________ of time.
98) I know it's hard to stop smoking, but you'll feel better in the long _____________.
100) If you do not agree to refund my deposit, I will be forced to take _________ action.
101) Newcastle United won a ______ victory over league rivals Arsenal to win the premiership
title.
103) If the virus continues to spread _____________ , we’ll have an epidemic on our hands.
104) The ___________ speaker at today's event will be Peter Morgan, a leading authority on Celtic
history.
105) I prefer sugar in my coffee, thanks. I find ________ sweeteners leave a bitter aftertaste.
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111) Many busy housewives today buy __________ foods.
112) I'm tired of washing by hand. I could ___________ with a washing machine.
114) I love chips, but the doctor advised me not to eat ______________food.
115) Eating a bar of chocolate from time __________time won't do you any harm.
A to B in C at D with
A in B with C at D of
120) It took six months for him to fully _________ from his illness.
A with B In C on D under
124) Jeffs constant coughing and _________is a sign he should give up smoking.
125) The operation left him with a small on his left cheek.
126) You shouldn't drive while taking this medication as it can cause _________vision.
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A hazy B misty C vague D blurred
128) Following her collapse from exhaustion, the doctor recommended lots of bed_______.
129) The races were cancelled because the race ____________was waterlogged.
130) A protective _______will not only protect you if you fall but will also prevent injury from
falling rocks from above.
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