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2019-2020 навчальний рік

Reading 9th form

Text 1
Read the text below. For assignments (1-6) choose the correct answer (A, B, C, D).
Juanita’s Family problems
It was a tree-block walk from the bus to the nursery school where Juanita had
left her little daughter this morning on her way to work. Juanita hurried, knowing
she was late. The little girl ran toward her as she entered the small playroom in the
basement of a private house. Though the house, like others in the area, was old and
in despair, the school rooms were clean and cheerful – the reason Juanita had
chosen the school in preference to others, though the cost was higher and it was
hard for her to pay. It was obvious from the stillness around that the other children
were all gone. Miss Ferroe, who owned and ran the school, came in and looked
pointedly at her watch. ‘Mrs. Nunez, as a special favour I agreed that Estella could
stay after the others, but this is too late… Other parents observe the school’s
closing time.’
‘It won’t happen again, I promise,’ said Juanita ‘Very well. But since you are
here, Mrs. Nunez, may I remind you that last month’s bill for Estella had not been
paid.’ ‘I really am sorry, Miss Ferroe. It will be paid on Friday. I’ll have my
paycheck then.’ The school fees, Juanita decided, would have to come out of her
pay this week, as she had said, and somehow she must manage until the payday
after that. She wasn’t sure how.
Her wage as a teller at the bank was $83. Out of that there was food to buy for
the two of them, Estella’s school fees, plus rent of the tiny flat they lived in; also
the finance company would demand a payment since she had missed the last.
Before Carlos, her husband, left her, simply walking out and disappearing a year
ago, Juanita had been naïve enough to sign finance papers together with her
husband. He had bought suits, a used car, a colour TV on credit, all of which he
took with him. Juanita, however, was still paying and the installments seemed to
stretch on into a limitless future.

1. Juanita’s daughter studied in…

A infant school
B nursery school
C secondary school
D high school

2. The building of school was…

A old and in despair
B modern
C clean and cheerful
D renovated
 3. The small playroom of the nursery school was in (on)… of a private house.
A the basement
B the first floor
C the second floor
D the attic

4. Juanita worked at…

A the school
B. the hospital
C the bank
D the market

5. Juanita’s wage was…

A $73
B$83
C $103
D $303

6. Her husband…
A divorced her a year ago
B disserted her a month ago
C disappeared a year ago
D died a year ago

Text 2 Choose the correct words (A, B, C, D) to complete the sentences.

The apple pie did not originate in America. English colonists brought a taste
for the fruit from the Old World and (1)… planting orchards (2)… early as
1628. Dried, raw, and cooked, the apple found its way into numerous colonial
(3)…. Apple pie became known as American, not because it (4) … in America,
but because of the abundance of apples in the orchards of Washington and New
York. No other dessert is (5)… identifiable with America than apple pie.

1 A have begun B had begun C begin D began

2 A as B so C such D since
3 A dish B dishes C dishes’ D dish’s
4 A had invented B has been C was invented D is being
invented invented
5 A most B much C the most D more
1- D; 2- A; 3- B; 4- C; 5- D.
 Text 3
Read the text and match the sentences (a-f) with the gap (1-5) in the text. There
are sentences that you don’t need to use.
The Man With the 30 Seconds Memory

When British musician, Clive Wearing, woke up on Wednesday 27 March,

1985, he could not answer a simple question or even remember his wife’s name.
His wife, Deborah, called the doctor. (1) … .
But that evening his wife arrived home from work to an empty flat, and later
that night, a taxi-driver found Clive walking along the streets. His wife took him
straight to hospital.
When Clive went into a coma, the doctors finally diagnosed a dangerous
virus. (2) … . The doctors doubted that he would ever get better. However, they
were wrong. Clive got better physically, but unfortunately his mental condition did
not improve. His history is thought to be one of the most shocking cases of
amnesia ever recorded.
The one thing that Clive did recall when he woke up was that he had a wife,
and he knew that he loved her, but Clive now had a short-term memory of less
than 30 seconds. (3) … .
Whenever Deborah left him, even if it was just to go to the bathroom, when
she came back Clive talked to her as if it was the first time he had seen her that
day.
Clive spent seven years in a psychiatric ward in a hospital, before moving to
a special unit for people with brain injuries. Unfortunately, his amnesia did not
improve. (4) … . She got a divorce and tried to make a new life for herself. But
Deborah still loved Clive. She realized that she couldn’t live without him and nine
years later, she rang him and asked him if he would like to get married again. Of
course, he couldn’t remember getting married the first time or getting divorced, but
he agreed.
(5) … .
A For Deborah this was a difficult time, and in the end she decided to leave Clive.
B Today, Clive and Deborah have a very unusual marriage, but their love is as
strong as ever.
C The doctor said it was flu and lack of sleep and sent Clive back to bed.
D Clive couldn’t remember things that happened more than 30 seconds ago.
E This made life easier for the couple.
F When he came out of his coma, he couldn’t remember a single thing that had
ever happened to him.
1 C; 2 D; 3 F; 4 A; 5 B.
Text 4

Read the text and do the test

Philadelphia is a city known for many things. It is where the Declaration of
Independence was signed in 1776, and it was also the first capital of the United
States. But one fact about Philadelphia is not so well - known: it is home to nearly
3,000 murals painted on the sides of homes and buildings around the city. In fact,
it is said that Philadelphia has more murals than any other city in the world, with
the exception of Rome. How did this come to be?
More than 20 years ago, a New Jersey artist named Jane Golden started a
program pairing troubled youth with artists to paint murals on a few buildings
around the city. From this small project, something magical happened. The young
people involved helped to create magnificent pieces of art, but there were other,
perhaps more important benefits. The young people learned to collaborate and get
along with many different kinds of people during the various steps required to
paint and design a mural. They learned to be responsible, because they needed to
follow a schedule to make sure the murals were completed. They also learned to
take pride in their community. It is hard for any resident to see the spectacular
designs and not feel proud to be a part of Philadelphia.
Take a walk around some of the poorest neighborhoods in Philadelphia,
neighborhoods full of broken windows and littered front steps, and you will find
beautiful works of art on the sides and fronts of buildings. Of course the murals are
not just in poor neighborhoods, but more affluent ones as well. Special buses take
tourists to different parts of the city to see the various murals, which range from
huge portraits of historical heroes, to cityscapes, to scenes depicting the diverse
ethnic groups that call Philadelphia home.
As a result of its success, the mural program created by Jane Golden has
now become the nation’s largest public art program and a model for other cities
throughout the country seeking to help troubled youth.

Choose the correct answer:

1. The main focus of the passage is

A. an art program designed to help troubled youth
B. the many tourists who come to Philadelphia to see murals
C. the reasons why Philadelphia is a unique city
D. how Jane Golden came up with the idea to start a mural program

2. As used in paragraph 1, the phrase “it is said” suggests that the author is
A. knowingly misleading the reader
B. using a quote from someone else
C. referring to something that is widely believed, but may be untrue
D. referring to something that he or she does not personally believe
3. As used in paragraph 1, the phrase “with the exception of Rome” means that
A. Rome has fewer murals than Philadelphia
B. Philadelphia has fewer murals than Rome
C. Rome has the most beautiful murals of all
D. Rome and Philadelphia are the only cities with murals

4. According to the passage, the murals in Philadelphia

I. draw tourists who want to see them
II. instill responsibility and pride in the people who paint them
III. are solely designed by the youth who paint them
A.I only
B.I and II only
C.II and III only
D.I, II, and III

5. As used in paragraph 3, which is the best definition of affluent?

A. popular
B. clean
C. well - known
D .wealthy

6. Based on information in the passage, the author most likely believes that
A. there are too many murals in Philadelphia
B. the mural program was an inspirational idea
C. all troubled youth should learn how to paint
D. every city in the country should adopt the mural program

7. Based on information in the passage, it can be inferred that the author believes
the two best reasons for other cities to adopt the mural program are to
A. beautify their city and draw tourists
B. help troubled youth and beautify their city
C. have as many murals as Philadelphia and help troubled youth
D. draw tourists and surpass Philadelphia in terms of number of murals

Keys: 1.A 2.C 3.B 4.B 5.D 6.B 7.B

Text 5 Read the text below. Choose from the list (1-8) the word combination
which best summarizes each part (A-G) of the text. There is one extra choice you
do not need to use. Mark your answers in the box below.
1. City management 5. Meeting the city's everyday needs
2. Interior of the houses 6. City's finance
3. Bright colours 7. City architecture
4. Busy waterway 8. City's leading position
A. London was a good place to live in the fourteenth century, and all
Londoners were very proud of it. It had a population of about forty
thousand and that made it as large as the next four towns in England
combined. Its political prestige was enormous, and whatever king occupied
the throne in nearby Westminster, the opinions of Londoners had to be
considered.
B. In so busy a city, the problem of adequate water supply and sewage
disposal and city cleaning were necessarily complicated. Each of the
twenty-five areas of the city had at least one full-time street cleaner. Untidy
trades like that of the butchers were kept as far away as possible from the
centre. Each citizen had to have the road paved in front of his
house.
C. The city was democratically and intelligently run, and mostly by men who
received no pay for their services. The mayor received a large grant for
entertainment purposes, and the town-sergeant and town-clerk were given
salaries because theirs were full-time posts, but aldermen and members of
the common council worked for nothing. They watched over the welfare of
the city because they were its citizens.
D. The houses were somewhat dark, especially when the wooden shutters had
to be closed, as glass was expensive and of poor quality. Most of the houses
in London were built tightly packed together, with each storey extending
further towards the street than the last one and sometimes the top floors of
buildings on opposite sides of the street were so big that they actually met in
the middle.
E. As if to compensate for the crooked dark streets and the small dark houses,
the outsides of the houses were painted and carved, and priests walked in
red and green boots. Even burial cloths were crimson and blue and gold. In
churches, there were cloths of gold, with flowers and ostrich feathers woven
of jewels and metallic thread. No one could have called London dull.
F. A well-to-do family lived in a house where the main room was the hall.
There were painted tables, cupboards and chairs with matching curtains in
some bright, cheerful colour. The bedroom was a single upstairs room
usually used by the whole family. The beds were the most valuable articles
of furniture in the whole house. The kitchen and pantry were well equipped.
G. The shortest and quickest route through London was by boat, and the river
was never empty of the private barges of the nobility and the public boats of
the watermen, who travelled back and forth as the fourteenth-century
equivalent of a taxi system. There was also a constant movement of goods,
with local boats bringing all the necessary things.

A B C D E F G

8 5 1 7 3 2 4
 Listening Comprehension Test for 9th Form Students

You’ll Never Know

(after Alan Maley)

His thoughts were interrupted by the flight announcement. He picked up his

bag and filed through to the waiting aircraft. The rest of his trip to Paris was a blur of
activity. His discussions with Sandfurth were successful and he returned home late
the next evening to his tiny basement flat in Bayswater. He felt exhausted.

Next morning he went in late. Immediately Fergus called for a report on his
trip. It was mid-afternoon before he returned to his office. There were two messages
on his machine. Both were musical! “Lithuanians and Let’s do it, let’s do it, let’s fall
in love” , was the first. The second was “You’ll never know…” again. He now felt
sure it was some kind of joke. It couldn’t possibly be serious. He knew it could not be
anyone in the office: Daphne was too trendy; Fiona was too serious; Cindy was too
young.

The next two weeks passed normally. About once a week he would find a new
message on his machine:” I’ve never loved like this before…”,”…with just a look.
Could we have been in love once before? Is now the time? It seems that I know you
so well”. He began to realize that this was no joke. Someone was really trying to tell
him that he was loved. But who? Who would go to all the trouble?

Two days later he returned to the office in the late afternoon after lunch with a
very difficult, unpleasant author. It was a fine May day. He had walked back to clear
the disagreeable memory of the man from his mind. The air was full of the perfumes
of spring flowers. On his machine he found two messages. The first was the well-
known “You’ll never know”. The second was, “Meet me on the corner. I’ll be
waiting there.” The second message had been recorded three times, as if it was
especially important.

Cindy had already gone. Daphne put her head round the door to say good night.
She seemed to be looking for an excuse to stay but he did not look up. “See you then.
I’m just going for a quick drink at the wine bar”, she said hesitating. She left. Fiona
was still working in her office at the end of the corridor. He needed to check on a
detail in a letter from a difficult author. As he was opening his door, she emerged
from there. He asked for the information, which she gave him. “I wonder if that
satisfy him?” he asked. She looked at him with her green eyes. They looked so full of
feelings in the evening light. “You’ll never know probably”, she said looking at him
intensely, and walked down the stairs.

He suddenly realized what she had said. It was Fiona. She was the one! He
grabbed his things, ran downstairs and caught up with her as she reached the corner.
Yes, the corner. “Meet me on the corner”, the song rang in his ears. He clumsily
invited her to have a glass of wine with him at the corner wine bar. They did not see
Daphne sitting in the corner when they came in. She quickly got up and left by the
side entrance. That was it really. They realized quickly that they were “made for each
other” as song might put it. Within six months they were married.

І. Write (+) next to true statements and (-) next to false statements.
1. He returned back home very tired and the trip was quite fruitful.
2. His dwelling was miserable because he was poor.
3. He didn’t prepare a report on the trip because he was very busy.
4. He decided not to think about the phone messages because he considered them a
joke.
5. He thought that none of his colleagues could have sent him the messages received
on his return after the trip.
6. It was the spring that impelled to speak and sing about love.
7. The messages received on a fine may day were of not so important for him.
8. One of the young ladies tried to make some hints about the appointment on the
corner.
9. He suspected both Daphne and Fiona sending him the love messages on a fine
spring day.
10. Fiona’s and his love story was dramatic.

II. Multiple choice: circle the correct answer:

11. He was on the way to…

A the airport.
B a big city.
C some distant town.
D the country.

12. What is true about the narrator?

A He worked in a bank.
B He worked on his own.
C He had a senior colleague.
D He worked with a difficult author.

13. The situation in the office…

A enjoyed to him.
B often troubled him lately.
C always interested him.
D brought him success.

14. The phone messages…

A repeated regularly
B were very rare.
C were all the same.
D were amusing.

15. He could not ignore the phone messages because…

A it was pleasant to listen to them.
B they were very important.
C the intrigued him.
D they were sent by his friend.

16. One day somebody sent him…

A a very short message.
B three messages.
C a rhymed message.
D a memo.

17. He ran after Fiona because…

A she invited him to meet on the corner.
B he invited her to meet on the corner.
C he thought she invited him to meet on the corner.
D they had an appointment on the corner.

18. They realized their feelings for each other…

A while discussing the details of the letter.
B while listening to the song.
C having met at the corner.
D at the corner bar.

19. Daphne left the bar because she…

A did not want to see them.
B did not want them to see her.
C was in a hurry.
D hated him and Fiona.

20. Who was the message actually sent by?

A Fergus
B Fiona
C Cindy
D Daphne
Keys You’ll Never Know

Task 1. 1T 2F 3F 4T 5T 6T 7F 8T 9F 10T

Task 2. 11B 12C 13B 14A 15C 16C 17C 18D 19B 20D
 Reading 10th form
Text 1
Read the text below. For questions (1-6) chose the correct answer (A, B, C, D).
The World of Puppet Theatre
Watching wooden dolls come to life may not be one of the most popular forms of
entertainment today, but with over twenty years’ experience, talented puppeteer Peter Roberts
has earned himself the title ‘master puppeteer’ due to his extraordinary ability to transform
puppets into believable, almost living characters. ‘People are quite often surprised to hear what I
do for living and have little appreciation of puppetry as a form of entertainment. But while the
exact origins of puppet theatre are unknown, it has been popular in many cultures and may have
been the very first kind of theatre,’ he explains.
As Roberts writes his own scripts and musical scores, his shows are highly original. ‘a
puppet show can involve anything from clowning to storytelling,’ he explains. Equally diverse
is the audience he performs for. ‘Some come, to be entranced with the puppets themselves,
while others enjoy the catchy tunes and witty dialogue.’ Roberts believes that this form of
entertainment crosses international boundaries and can be appreciated by people of all ages and
cultures.
Roberts’s fascination for puppets started when he received some beautiful glove puppets one
Christmas. He started putting on shows with these for family and friends and then moved on to
handmade Chinese string puppets. Learning mostly from books and personal experience, he
continued with his ‘hobby’ while studying for a degree in architecture. ‘By the time I left
university,’ he exclaims, I was already spending, most of my free time carving puppets and
putting on shows in the community, so I hardly noticed the transition from student to full-time
professional puppeteer. I realized I had long since abandoned all thoughts of pursuing any other
career!’
The puppets are designed specifically for each show, which is extremely time-consuming.
Each one is carved out of English lime wood and then painted. According to Roberts:
‘Sometimes what you anticipate and what you actually create in the end are two very different
things, but I’ve made some of my best puppets ‘accidentally’, as it were.’ Some of his
‘characters’ then appear in exhibitions; others are used for puppeteering workshops.
When most people hear the word ‘puppetry’, they more than likely think of The Muppet
Show or the Punch and Judy show at the English seaside, or a way of keeping children
entertained at birthday parties. Certainly the subject matter will be expected to be light-hearted
rather than serious. However, Roberts is keen to point out that puppet theatre can often be used
as an effective educational tool. ‘Though the mouths of puppets come serious messages
sometimes,’ he says.
1. What do we learn about puppet theatre in the first paragraph?
A It is not fully recognized.
B It is gaining popularity.
C It is highly valued as an art form.
D It is a popular form of entertainment.
2. Roberts has earned himself the title ‘master puppeteer’ because… .
A he loves puppets
B he has a great experience of work with puppets
C it is an original form of entertainment.
D he can turn his puppets into living beings
3. Roberts believes that his shows… .
A are suitable only for children
B offer something for everyone
C appeal to light-hearted people
D are mainly appreciated for their originality
4. Roberts started working as a professional puppeteer…
A after doing a puppetry course.
B after leaving university.
C while he was still a student.
D when he realized he didn’t want to be n architect.
5. The puppets that Roberts designs… .
A are made using a variety of techniques.
B aren’t made to last.
C turn out better than expected.
D usually appear in several different shows.

Text 2.
Choose the correct words (A, B, C, D) to complete the sentences.
Doug Allen, (1) … is a freelance wildlife and documentary cameraman, has always had a
passion for filming underwater, all over the world. He was born in Scotland in 1951 and (2) …
marine biology at university. After he graduated, he spent some years (3) … different diving
jobs around the world. Then, in 1976, he went to the Antarctic to work (4) … a research diver.
There, he helped scientists carry out underwater studies beneath the ice. His career took a new
direction in 1987 when he travelled to the Antarctic (5) … the award-winning documentary
films The blue Planet, Planet Earth and Life.

1 A his B who C whose D where

2 A had studied B studied C was studying D studying
3 A to do B doing C do D done
4 A as B by C to D on
5 A film B filming C to film D was filming

1- B ; 2- B ; 3- B ; 4- A ; 5- C .

Text 3
Read the text and choose the correct answer.
Camera Vision
34-year old Canadian film-maker Rob Spence doesn’t seem unusual. You wouldn’t
realize it at first, but one of his eyes is false. But this is not the most unusual thing
about him. Inside the false eye Spence has a wireless video camera. The camera is not
connected to his brain and has not improved his eyesight. Instead it records
everything he sees. The camera runs on a very small battery and it has a transmitter, a
device which allows Spence to send an image of what he is seeing at any moment to a
computer.
Spence damaged his right eye at the age of thirteen while he was playing with his
grandfather’s gun on a visit to Ireland. After the accident his vision got worse until he
became completely blind in that eye. Three years ago, he had an operation to remove
this eye and to insert a false one. And it is this false eye that now contains his
miniature video camera.
Spence knew that building a camera that was small enough to fit inside the eye
would not be easy, so he contacted Dr Steve Mann, a cyborgs scientist at the
University of Toronto. Cyborgs are machines that combine natural and artificial
systems. Together, Spence and Mann succeeded in building a device which Time
magazine described as one of the best inventions of the year. Even though his project
is still quite new, Spence says that many people have already told him that they don’t
like being filmed; he finds this strange as the same people have no problem with the
hundreds of surveillance cameras that film them every day at school, in the
underground and in shopping centers. He hopes that his project will make people
think more about how government and organizations monitor these cameras and the
information they record.
1. What does Spence’s camera do?
A Helps him see well.
B Films what he sees.
C Takes photos of everything.
2. The camera is powered by … .
A a computer
B a transmitter
C a tiny battery
3. Why did Spence go blind in one eye?
A He had an accident with a gun.
B An operation went wrong
C His grandfather accidentally shot him.
4. Why did Spence approach Dr Mann for help in building tiny camera?
A Dr Mann was a specialist in building tiny cameras.
B Dr Mann had experience in working with eye devices.
C Dr Mann was an expert in technology which connects humans with man-made
devices.
5. What does Spence hope people will learn from his project?
A To question how much they are monitored.
B To feel comfortable when they are filmed.
C How to record information.
Text 4 Read the text and do the test
How not to Behave Badly Abroad
Travelling to all corners of the world gets easier and easier. We live in a global
village, but how well do we know and understand each other? Here is a simple test.
Imagine you have arranged a meeting at four o’clock. What time should you expect
your foreign business colleagues to arrive? If they’re German, they’ll be band on
time. If they’re American, they’ll probably be 15 minutes early. If they’re British,
they’ll be 15 minutes late, and you should allow up to an hour for the Italians.
When the European Community began to increase in size, several guidebooks
appeared giving advice on international etiquette. At first many people thought this
was a joke, especially the British, who seemed to assume that the widespread
understanding of their language meant a corresponding understanding of English
customs. Very soon they had to change their ideas, as they realized that they had a lot
to learn about how to behave with their foreign business friends.
For example:
• The British are happy to have a business lunch and discuss business matters
with a drink during the meal; the Japanese prefer not to work while eating. Lunch is a
time to relax and get to know one another, and they rarely drink at lunchtime.
• The Germans like to talk business before dinner; the French like to eat first and
talk afterwards. They have to be well fed and watered before they discuss anything.
• Taking off your jacket and rolling up your sleeves is a sign of getting down to
work in Britain and Holland, but in Germany people regard it as taking it easy.
• American executives sometimes signal their feelings of ease and importance in
their offices by putting their feet on the desk whilst on the telephone. In Japan, people
would be shocked. Showing the soles of your feet is the height of bad manners. It is a
social insult only exceeded by blowing your nose in public.
The Japanese have perhaps the strictest rules of social and business behavior.
Seniority is very important, and a younger man should never be sent to complete a
business deal with an older Japanese man. The Japanese business card almost needs a
rulebook of its own. You must exchange business cards immediately on meeting
because it is essential to establish everyone’s status and position.
When it is handed to a person in a superior position, it must be given and
received with both hands, and you must take time to read it carefully, and not just put
it in your pocket! Also the bow is a very important part of greeting someone. You
should not expect the Japanese to shake hands. Bowing the head is a mark of respect
and the first bow of the day should be lower than when you meet thereafter.

The Americans sometimes find it difficult to accept the more formal Japanese
manners. They prefer to be casual and more informal, as illustrated by the universal
'Have a nice day!' American waiters have a one-word imperative 'Enjoy!' The British,
of course, are cool and reserved. The great topic of conversation between strangers in
Britain is the weather-unemotional and impersonal. In America, the main topic
between strangers is the search to find a geographical link. 'Oh, really? You live in
Ohio? I had an uncle who once worked there.' 'When in Rome, do as the Romans do.'
Here are some final tips for travelers.
In France you shouldn't sit down in a cafe until you've shaken hands with
everyone you know. In Afghanistan you should spend at least five minutes saying
hello. In Pakistan you mustn't wink. It is offensive. In the Middle East you must
never use the left hand for greeting, eating, drinking, or smoking. Also, you should
take care not to admire anything in your hosts’ home. They will feel that they have to
give it to you. In Russia you must match your hosts drink for drink or they will think
you are unfriendly. In Thailand you should clasp your hands together and lower your
head and your eyes when you greet someone. In America you should eat your
hamburger with both hands and as quickly as possible. You shouldn't try to have a
conversation until it is eaten.
Mark true and false sentences
1. We know perfectly customs and traditions of every nationality.
2. The Germans are the most punctual among nationalities in the world.
3. When the European Community began to increase in size, some guidebooks
appeared giving advice on international etiquette.
4. The Japanese are happy to have a business lunch and discuss business matters
with a drink during the meal.
5. The French have to be well fed and watered before they discuss business
matters.
6. British executives sometimes signal their feelings of ease and importance in
their offices by putting their feet on the desk while speaking on the telephone.
7. Showing the soles of your feet is the height of bad manners in Japan.
8. In Japan you must exchange business cards immediately on meeting because it
is essential to establish everyone’s status and position.
9. Japanese like to shake hands during business meeting.
10. In the Middle East you should take care to admire everything in your hosts’
home.

Keys: 1.F 2.T 3.T 4.F 5.T 6.F 7.T 8.T 9.F 10.F

Text 5
Read the text and do the test

Tools of Persuasion
Persuasion is the art of convincing someone to agree with your point of view.
According to the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle, there are three basic tools of
persuasion: ethos, pathos, and logos.
Ethos is a speaker’s way of convincing the audience that she is a credible source.
An audience will consider a speaker credible if she seems trustworthy, reliable, and
sincere. This can be done in many ways. For example, a speaker can develop ethos by
explaining how much experience or education she has in the field. After all, you
would be more likely to listen to advice about how to take care of your teeth from a
dentist than a firefighter. A speaker can also create ethos by convincing the audience
that she is a good person who has their best interests at heart. If an audience cannot
trust you, you will not be able to persuade them.
Pathos is a speaker’s way of connecting with an audience’s emotions. For
example, a speaker who is trying to convince an audience to vote for him might say
that he alone can save the country from a terrible war. These words are intended to
fill the audience with fear, thus making them want to vote for him. Similarly, a
charity organization that helps animals might show audience pictures of injured dogs
and cats. These images are intended to fill the viewers with pity. If the audience feels
bad for the animals, they will be more likely to donate money.
Logos is the use of facts, information, statistics, or other evidence to make your
argument more convincing. An audience will be more likely to believe you if you
have data to back up your claims. For example, a commercial for soap might tell you
that laboratory tests have shown that their soap kills all 7,000,000 of the bacteria
living on your hands right now. This piece of information might make you more
likely to buy their brand of soap. Presenting this evidence is much more convincing
than simply saying “our soap is the best!” Use of logos can also increase a speaker’s
ethos; the more facts a speaker includes in his argument, the more likely you are to
think that he is educated and trustworthy.
Although ethos, pathos, and logos all have their strengths, they are often most
effective when they are used together. Indeed, most speakers use a combination of
ethos, pathos, and logos to persuade their audiences. The next time you listen to a
speech, watch a commercial, or listen to a friend try to convince you to lend him
some money, be on the lookout for these ancient Greek tools of persuasion .

Choose the correct answer:

1. As used in paragraph 2, what is the best antonym for credible?
A. unintelligent
B. boring
C. dishonest
D. amazing

2. Amy is trying to convince her mother to buy her a pair of $200 shoes. She says:
“Mom, the shoes I have are really old and ugly. If I don’t get these new shoes,
everyone at school is going to laugh at me. I will be so embarrassed that I will want
to die.” What form of persuasion is Amy using here?
A. pathos
B. ethos
C. logos
D. a combination of ethos, pathos, and logos

3. According to the passage, logos can build ethos because

A. an audience is less easily convinced by facts and information than simple appeals
to emotions like pity or fear
B. an audience is more likely to trust a speaker who uses evidence to support his
argument
C. a speaker who overuses pathos might make an audience too emotional; audiences
who are too frightened or too sad are unlikely to be persuaded
D. a speaker can use misleading or false information to make his argument seem
more convincing

4. Gareth is running for mayor. He tells his audience: “Under our current mayor,
there have been 15,000 new cases of unemployment. If he stays in office, who knows
how many more people will lose their jobs? The number could go up even higher.
When I was the CEO of Magnatech, I helped to create over 1,000 new jobs. I can do
the same thing for this city if you vote for me.” Which form of persuasion is Gareth
using here?
I. pathos
II. logos
III. ethos
A. I only
B. I and II only
C. II and III only
D. I, II, and III

5. According to the passage, the most effective tool of persuasion is

A. ethos, because you cannot persuade an audience that does not trust you
B. logos, because it can also be used to build ethos
C. a combination of ethos, pathos, and logos
D. pathos, because human beings are most easily persuaded by emotion

Keys: 1.C 2.A 3.B 4.D 5.C

Listening Comprehension Test for 10th Form Students

From “Life of Galileo” by Bertolt Brecht

Galileo: I like to think that it began with ships. Ever since men could remember they
crept only along the coasts; then suddenly they left the coasts and sped straight out
across the seas.

On our old continent a rumor started: there are new continents! And since our ships
have been sailing to them the word has gone round all the laughing continents that the
vast, dreaded ocean is just a little pond. And a great desire has arisen to fathom the
causes of all things: why a stone falls when you drop it, and how it rises when you
throw it in the air. Every day something new is discovered. Even centenarians let the
youngsters shout the latest novelty into their ears.

Already much has been discovered, but there is more still to be found out. And so
there are always new things for new generations to do.

When a young man in Sienna, I saw how a couple of builders, after five minutes
argument, replaced a thousand-year-old system for moving granite blocks by a new
and more practical arrangement of the tackle. Then and there I knew-the old age is
past and a new age is here. Soon mankind will know the truth about their home, about
the heavenly body on which they dwell. What is written in the old books no longer
satisfies them.

For where belief has prevailed for a thousand years, doubt now prevails. All the
world says: yes, that’s written in books but now let us see for ourselves. The most
solemn truths are being tapped on the shoulder; what was never doubted is now in
doubt.

But the waters of the earth are driving our new spindles and in the dockyard, in the
rope and sail shops, five hundred hands are moving together in a new way of
working.

I predict that in our lifetimes astronomy will be talked about in the market-places.
Even the sons of fishwives will go to school. For these city people seeking after
novelty will be glad that the new astronomy now lets the earth move freely, too. It
has always been said that the stars are affixed to a crystal sphere to prevent them
falling down. But now we have plucked up courage and we let them soar through
space, unfettered and in full career, like our ships, unfettered and in full career.

And the earth rolls happily round the sun, and the fishwives, merchants, princes and
cardinals and even the Pope roll with it.

Overnight the universe has lost its center, and by morning it has countless ones. So
that now each - and none-is regarded as its center. For suddenly there is plenty of
room.

Statements 1 through 10 (on your answer sheet circle + if the statement is true, -
if it is false).
1. The speaker is a young man in Sienna.
2. A centenarian is older than a youth.
3. The speaker would most likely agree with the statement “change is beneficial
to society.”
4. The speaker describes how ships and their crews have changed drastically in
his lifetime.
5. As an example of the transition from the old to new age, the speaker describes
a new system for moving steel blocks.
6. According to the speaker, experiencing something new can cause one to doubt
one’s beliefs.
7. During the time of the speaker, it was most likely common for all people to
attend school.
8. The speaker argues that there is no more new information to be obtained.
9. Builders replaced a one-thousand-year-old construction method in order to
improve their work.
10. The speaker believes that education will be open to more people as a result of
the development of ideas.

Questions 11 through 20 (on your answer sheet circle the correct letter A, B, C,
or D).

11.The speaker’s attitude could best be described as:

A. cautious optimism.
 B. brooding pessimism.
C. unfettered optimism.
D. reasonable pessimism.

12.According to the text, the speaker most likely believes what about astronomy, the
study of celestial objects like stars and moons?
A. It is not an important subject and should only be discussed by those who are
uneducated
B. It is far too complicated to be discussed by people who have not studied it
C. It will become a common subject of conversation for all types of people
D. It is the only subject in which new information will be found
.
13.“The heavenly body on which they dwell” likely refers to:
A. the sun.
B. ships.
C. stars.
D. the Earth.

14.Why does the author continuously compare the skies to the seas?
A. The skies were unexplored at the time were easily compared to the seas, which
had only recently been explored
B. It is the best comparison of two things that were both blue and expansive
C. To further disrespect religion and God
D. Both the skies and the seas have been extensively explored

15.For what reason did the builders most likely replace the thousand-year-old system
they had been using?
A. They had been ordered to do so and did not question the change
B. The system they had been using was not working properly at all
C. They faced problems with the old system and, after some debate, attempted a
new method
D. They carefully and thoughtfully designed a new system that would be more
efficient

16. What is Galileo likely referring to when he writes of ‘old books’?

A. Prior religious and scientific works
B. Ancient plays and stories
C. Books that are physically old and in desperate need of maintenance
D. Any book that disagrees with his ideas

17.When Galileo wrote that “ even centenarians let the youngsters shout the latest
novelty into their ears”, he implies that:
A. younger people often loudly proclaimed their ideas.
B. social etiquette became less important and old people did not mind.
C. old people were willing to listen to any new information.
D. All of the above
18.What does the speaker mention as the turning point that made him realize a new
age was upon the people of that time?
A. When he briefly witnessed an ancient system being replaced by a new one
B. When he understood that the sky was comparable to the sea, in multiple ways
C. When he began to question what was written in the ‘Old Books’
D. When he hears people talking about astronomy in the market

19.Inferring from the text, why might the discovery of new continents lead to the
abandonment of other well-established beliefs?
A. On the new continents lived people who had different beliefs
B. Since old beliefs were shown to be untrue, people realized that others might be
untrue also
C. The population no longer believed any old beliefs
D. All of the above

20. What does it mean to be “unfettered and in full career”, in the context of this
article?
A. To sail away from land
B. To move freely
C. To have a good job
D. To fly in the air

Keys

Task 1. 1F 2T 3T 4F 5F 6T 7F 8F 9T 10T

Task 2. 11C 12C 13D 14A 15C 16A 17D 18A 19B 20B

Reading 11th form

Text 1

Read the text below. For assignments (1-6) choose the correct answer (A, B, C, D).

Corruption
Sharon had marched up to my desk, obviously furious, and demanded ‘a word
outside’. At that moment I was just curious to find out what had bothered her so
much. I followed her outside. “I’ve just paid a little visit to our old friend Fat Micky,’
she said, ‘to put some pressure on him about last year’s Renfrew robbery, and he says
you took some cash to ‘lose’ some evidence. Well?’
If I’d known what was coming, I could have reacted better, but I’d been caught
completely off guard and I knew it showed. ‘It’s a lie,’ I said, as coolly as I could.
‘He’s a criminal and will say anything.’ I hoped I sounded convincing but she was
looking straight at me with her sharp blue eyes and I felt like a schoolboy in trouble
with the headmaster. I leaned back against the wall trying to look like I didn’t have a
care in the world, despite the fact that I was having difficulty breathing and I could
feel the beads of sweat gathering on my forehead.
Sharon was a woman I’d always admired. A tough detective and a very good one,
too. It wasn’t easy for a woman to make it as a detective and earn the respect of all
her colleagues. But it hadn’t been easy for me either, a boy from the poorest area in
Glasgow. I was a good detective, one of the best, in fact, and I’d only ever made one
mistake – taking money from Micky. It had been just after I had split up with my
wife and I was badly in debt. I had never done anything like it before and I never
intended to do it again.
Now, as Sharon confronted me, I felt small, ugly and very guilty. I also felt
annoyed with her at that moment. What made her so perfect? Ha she never put a foot
wrong anywhere? Ever? My mind raced as I tried to decide what to do. Should I tell
the truth, explain what had happened and hope she’d take me side? Or should I just
brush off the accusation and pray she didn’t tell anyone? I had no idea if this
conversation could finish off my promising career a police officer or not.
At the end of the day it would all come down to my word against Micky’s and he
was just a cheap criminal. But I didn’t want people whispering behind my back,
wondering if it were true, whether I really was a corrupt officer of the law. If word
got out, this would always be on my record. Once your superiors had lost confidence
in you it was almost impossible to get it back and I didn’t want to lose my chance of
further promotion. I’d already made it to detective inspector and I saw no reason why
I couldn’t go higher. Except now there was Micky’s betrayal casting a dark shadow
over my dreams.
I shrugged my shoulders and attempted a cheeky grin at Sharon. ‘You’re the last
person I expected to believe Micky. I should be offended,’ I said. She laughed, but it
was an empty laugh and it didn’t reach her cold eyes. ‘I didn’t believe him. Until
now, that is. It’s a shame really, because you were always the one person in the
station that I looked up to. I thought you were very honest and I’ve just lost a little
more faith in humanity,’ she said. ‘But don’t worry; your dirty little secret is safe
with me.’
As I watched her turn around and go back into the station, I finally managed to
take a deep breath. Of course, I was very relieved that she wouldn’t talk and I trusted
her because I knew that, unlike me, she really was an honest person. But her words
had affected me deeply. I had lost her respect forever. I would be able to hold my
head high with everyone in the station, apart from her. Even if I ever did manage to
get the promotion I longed for, there would always be one person who knew I didn’t
deserve it.
1. Sharon was angry because…
A Fat Micky was threatening her.
B she found out the writer had put her in danger.
C she thought the writer may have harmed the case.
D she had been tricked by Fat Micky

2. When the writer says ‘I’d been caught completely off guard’ in paragraph two,
he means he…
A reacted wrongly
B was seen doing wrong
C wasn’t feeling confident
D was taken by surprise.

3. When Sharon made her accusation the writer…

A was afraid that he looked guilty.
B managed to persuade her that he was innocent.
C didn’t try to defend himself.
D succeeded in staying calm.

4. In the third paragraph, the writer implies that his mistake…

A was Sharon’s fault.
B should be forgiven.
C hadn’t hurt anyone.
D ended his marriage.

5. The writer was worried that…

A he would lose his job
B his colleagues would lose their trust in him.
C Micky would try to hurt him
D Sharon’s career would be affected.

6. In paragraph six, Sharon shows that she …

A still admired the writer.
B would reveal what she knew.
C felt disappointed with the writer.
D believed the writer was innocent.
Text 2
Read the text and do the test

Have you ever heard someone use the phrase “once in a blue moon?” People use
this expression to describe something that they do not do very often. For example,
someone might say that he tries to avoid eating sweets because they are unhealthy,
but will eat chocolate “once in a blue moon.” Or someone who does not usually like
to go to the beach might say “I visit the shore once in a blue moon.” While many
people use this phrase, not everyone knows the meaning behind it.
The first thing to know is that the moon itself is never actually blue. This is just
an expression. The phrase “blue moon” actually has to do with the shape of the moon,
not the color.
As the moon travels around the earth, it appears to change shape. We associate
certain names with certain shapes of the moon. For example, when we can see a small
part of the moon, it is called a crescent moon. A crescent is a shape that looks like the
tip of a fingernail. When we cannot see the moon at all, it is called a new moon.
When we can see the entire moon, it is called a full moon. Usually, there is only one
full moon every month. Sometimes, however, there will be two full moons in one
month. When this happens, the second full moon is called a “blue moon.”
Over the next 20 years, there will only be 15 blue moons. As you can see, a blue
moon is a very rare event. This fact has led people to use the expression “once in a
blue moon” to describe other very rare events in their lives.

Choose the correct answer:

1. Which of the following would be a good example of someone doing something
“once in a blue moon”?
A. Mary likes to go to the mountains every weekend. Mary goes to the mountains
once in a blue moon.
B. Tom rarely remembers to take out the trash. Tom takes out the trash once in a blue
moon.
C. Cindy hates to wash the dishes. Nevertheless, she does it every day. Cindy washes
the dishes once in a blue moon.
D. Ming sometimes forgets to do his homework. Ming forgets to do his homework
once in a blue moon.

2. When does a blue moon happen in nature?

A. when there are two full moons in one month
B. when the moon has a blue color
C. when we cannot see the moon at all
D. when we can only see a small part of the moon

3. Using the passage as a guide, which of the following sentences does not contain an
expression
A. Thomas has lost his mind.
B. An apple a day keeps the doctor away.
C. I'll mow the grass after I finish my homework.
D. It's never a bad time to start something new.

4. As described in paragraph 3, what is another example of something that has a

crescent shape?
A. your thumb
B. a distant star
C. the letter “C”
D. the letter "H"

5. In the final paragraph, the author states: “Over the next 20 years, there will only be
15 blue moons.”
This means that over the next 20 years, a blue moon will happen
A. once a year
B. less than once a year
C. more than once a year
D. not enough information is provided

6. As used in the final paragraph, which is the best antonym for rare
A. common
B. strange
C. colorful
D. infrequent

7. In the final paragraph the author writes, "As you can see, a blue moon is a very
rare event." The purpose of this statement is to
A. answer an earlier question
B. provide an example
C. support an upcoming conclusion
D. challenge a previous statesmen

Keys: 1.B 2.A 3.C 4.C 5.B 6.A 7.C

Text 3

Read the text and do the test

When you imagine the desert, you probably think of a very hot place covered
with sand. Although this is a good description for many deserts, Earth’s largest desert
is actually a very cold place covered with ice: Antarctica.
In order for an area to be considered a desert, it must receive very little rainfall.
More specifically, it must receive an average of less than ten inches of precipitation
— which can be rain, sleet, hail, or snow — on the ground every year. Antarctica, the
coldest place on earth, has an average temperature that usually falls below the
freezing point. And because cold air holds less moisture than warm air, the air in
Antarctica does not hold much moisture at all. This is evident in the low precipitation
statistics recorded for Antarctica. For example, the central part of Antarctica receives
an average of less than 2 inches of snow every year. The coastline of Antarctica
receives a little bit more — between seven and eight inches a year. Because
Antarctica gets so little precipitation every year, it is considered a desert.
When precipitation falls in hot deserts, it quickly evaporates back into the
atmosphere. The air over Antarctica is too cold to hold water vapor, so there is very
little evaporation. Due to this low rate of evaporation, most of the snow that falls to
the ground remains there permanently, eventually building up into thick ice sheets.
Any snow that does not freeze into ice sheets becomes caught up in the strong winds
that constantly blow over Antarctica. This snow - filled winds can make it look as if it
is snowing. Even though snowfall is very rare there, blizzards are actually very
common on Antarctica.

Choose the correct answer:

1. The main purpose of paragraph 1 is to

A. accept a conclusion
B. introduce an argument
C. provide a brief history
D. deny a common belief

2. The best title for this passage would be

A. Earth’s Many Deserts

B. Antarctica:
The Coldest Place on Earth
C.A Desert of Ice
D. Unusual Blizzards

3. Africa’s Sahara Desert is the second - largest desert on earth. Based on the
information in the passage, what characteristic must the Sahara share with
Antarctica?

A. low temperatures
B. high temperatures
C. frequent blizzards
D. low precipitation

4. As used in paragraph 2, which is the best definition for precipitation?

A. moisture in the air that falls to the ground

B. any type of weather event
C. weather events that only happen in very cold areas
D. a blizzard that occurs in areas with limited snowfall
5. In paragraph 2 the author writes, "And because cold air holds less moisture than
warm air, the air in Antarctica does not hold much moisture at all." Using this
information, it can be understood that

A. air in Africa holds more moisture than the air in Antarctica

B. air surrounding a tropical island holds less moisture than the air in Antarctica
C. air in the second floor of a house is typically warmer than air on the first floor
D. air at the mountains is typically colder than the air at the beach

6. Based on the information in the final paragraph, it can be understood that blizzards
in Antarctica are mainly the result of
A. freezing cold temperatures
B. large amounts of snowfall
C. low amounts of precipitation
D. strong winds

Keys: 1.D 2.C 3.D 4.A 5.A 6.D

Text 4

Read the text and do the test

Some people say that the best defense is a good offense; an octopus, however,
would disagree. In addition to being one of the strangest and most beautiful creatures
in nature, the octopus has some of the most inventive and effective defense
mechanisms imaginable. While other animals have teeth, horns, or claws to help
defend them from predators, the octopus concentrates its energy on hiding from and
confusing its attackers. When it wants to get away, the octopus has an impressive
arsenal of tricks at its disposal.
The most well - known of the octopus’s defense mechanisms is its ability to
squirt clouds of ink into the water. Some octopi use this cloud of ink as camouflage;
after squirting the ink, the octopus retreats into the ink cloud where the predator
cannot see it. Other octopi use the ink cloud as a decoy. If a large, intelligent predator
such as a shark knows that octopi use ink clouds for camouflage, it might simply
attack the ink cloud blindly, hoping to make contact with the octopus inside.
However, some sneaky octopi will release the ink cloud in one direction and scurry
away in another direction, leaving the predator with nothing but a mouthful of ink. In
addition to confusing predators’ sense of sight, these ink clouds also confuse their
sense of smell. The ink is composed primarily of melanin (the same chemical that
gives human skin its color), which can shut down a predator’s sense of smell. If an
octopus cannot be seen or smelled, it has a much higher chance of escaping an attack.
Another defense mechanism possessed by many octopi is the ability to change
color, much like a chameleon. Most animals get their skin color from chemicals in
the skin called chromatophores (melanin is one of these chromatophores).
Chromatophores might contain yellow, orange, red, brown, or black pigments, and
the amount of each pigment present in the skin determines an animal’s color. While
most animals are always the same color, some species of octopi can control the
amount of each color pigment in their skin cells, allowing them to change color.
Some poisonous octopi, when provoked, will change their skin to a bright, eye -
catching color to warn predators that they are dangerous and ready to strike. Other
octopi use this ability to change their skin to the color and texture of seaweed or
coral, allowing them to blend in with their environment. Finally, some octopi — such
as the mimic octopus — use this color - changing ability to masquerade as another
type of animal. The body of an octopus is highly flexible, and some species can
combine this flexibility with their color - changing skills to make themselves
resemble more dangerous animals such as sea snakes or eels.
Yet another defense mechanism possessed by some octopi is the ability to
perform autonomy, or self - amputation, of one of their limbs and re-grow it later.
Many species of lizard also possess this ability, which allows them to shed their tails
when caught by a predator and therefore get away. When a predator catches a tentacle
the octopus can amputate this tentacle, thereby unfettering itself, and re-grow the
tentacle later. Some octopi, however, are even cleverer. When threatened by a
predator, these octopi will shed a tentacle before being attacked in the hope that the
predator will go after the detached tentacle rather than the octopus itself.
While the octopus may not be the most vicious creature in the ocean, its
numerous and clever defense mechanisms help it to survive in the dangerous
undersea world.

Choose the correct answer:

1. Which of the following sentences from the passage best expresses the main idea?
A. The most well-known of the octopus’s defense mechanisms is its ability to squirt
clouds of ink into the water.
B. Some people say that the best defense is a good offense; an octopus, however,
would disagree.
C. Another defense mechanism possessed by many octopi is the ability to change
color, much like a chameleon.
D. When it wants to get away, the octopus has an impressive arsenal of tricks at its
disposal.

2. The author claims in paragraph 1 that an octopus would disagree with the
statement “the best defense is a good offense” because
A. octopi employ more defensive than offensive capabilities
B. octopi possess good defensive and offensive capabilities
C. octopi can protect themselves from teeth, horns, and claws
D. not all octopi possess the same defense mechanisms

3. Which of the following statements best describes the organizational structure of

paragraphs 2-4?
A. The author lays out several reasons to support the argument that the octopus has
the best defense mechanisms of any sea creature.
B. The author devotes each paragraph to explaining three different defense
mechanisms possessed by the octopus.
C. The author devotes each paragraph to highlighting three potential threats to the
octopus and how the octopus deals with each one differently.
D. The author compares and contrasts three different defense mechanisms employed
by the octopus.

4. As used in paragraph 4, which of the following is the best synonym for

unfettering?
A. freeing
B. re-growing
C. amputating
D. sacrificing

5. The final paragraph can best be described as a

A. prediction conclusion, in which the author looks toward the future
B. full circle conclusion, in which the author incorporates and builds on a word or
theme from the introduction
C. solution conclusion, in which the author proposes a solution to a problem posed
earlier in the passage
D. summary conclusion, in which the author restates the passage’s main idea

Key: 1. D 2. A 3.B 4.A 5. D

Text 5

Read the text and do the test

In the early 1920's, settlers came to Alaska looking for gold. They traveled by
boat to the coastal towns of Seward and Knik, and from there by land into the gold
fields. The trail they used to travel inland is known today as the Iditarod Trail, one of
the National Historic Trails designated by the Congress of the United States. The
Iditarod Trail quickly became a major thoroughfare in Alaska, as the mail and
supplies were carried across this trail. People also used it to get from place to place,
including the priests, ministers, and judges who had to travel between villages. In the
winter, the settlers’ only means of travel down this trail was via dog sled.
Once the gold rush ended, much gold - seekers went back to where they had
come from, and suddenly there was much less travel on the Iditarod Trail. The
introduction of the airplane in the late 1920’s meant dog teams were no longer the
standard Mode of transportation, and of course with the airplane carrying the mail
and supplies, there was less need for land travel in general. The final blow to the use
of the dog teams was the appearance of snowmobiles.
By the mid 1960's, most Alaskans didn’t even know the Iditarod Trail existed, or
that dog teams had played a crucial role in Alaska’s early settlements. Dorothy G.
Page, a self - made historian, recognized how few people knew about the former use
of sled dogs as working animals and about the Iditarod Trail’s role in Alaska’s
colorful history. To raise awareness about this aspect of Alaskan history, she came up
with the idea to have a dog sled race over the Iditarod Trail. She presented her idea to
an enthusiastic musher, as dog sled drivers are known, named Joe Redington.
Many people worked to make the first Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race a reality in
1967. The Aurora Dog Mushers Club, along with men from the Adult Camp in
Sutton, helped clear years of overgrowth from the first nine miles of the Iditarod
Trail. To raise interest in the race, a $25,000 purse was offered, with Joe Redington
donating one acre of his land to help raise the funds. The short race, approximately 27
miles long, was put on a second time in 1969.
After these first two successful races, the goal was to lengthen the race a little
further to the ghost town of Iditarod by 1973. However in 1972, the U.S. Army
reopened the trail as a winter exercise, and so in 1973, the decision was made to take
the race all the way to the city of Nome — over 1,000 miles. There were many who
believed it could not be done and that it was crazy to send a bunch of mushers out
into the vast, uninhabited Alaskan wilderness. But the race went! 22 mushers finished
that year, and to date over 400 people have completed it.

Choose the correct answer:

1. The primary purpose of this passage is to
A. recount the history of the Iditarod trail and the race that memorializes it
B. describe the obstacles involved in founding the Iditarod race
C. outline the circumstances that led to the establishment of the Iditarod Trail
D.re-establish the important place of the Iditarod Trail in Alaska’s history

2. Based on information in the passage, it can be inferred that all of the following
contributed to the disuse of the Iditarod Trail except
A. more modern forms of transportation
B. depleted gold mines
C. highway routes to ghost towns
D. reduced demand for land travel

3. As used in paragraph 2, which is the best definition for mode?

A. formula
B. way
C. preference
D. option

4. According to the passage, the initial Iditarod race

A. was funded through the sale of musher’s land
B. was founded by the settlers
C. ended at the ghost town of Iditarod
D. boasted a total of 400 entrants

5. As used in paragraph 3, the phrase “self-made historian” implies that Dorothy G.

Page
A. was employed by the state to keep its dog sled history alive
B. was determined to honor the glories of the gold rush in spite of her questionable
credentials
C. had pursued the study of Alaska’s history out of her own interest
D. had personally educated others about Alaska’s history

6. Based on information in the passage, it can be inferred that because the U.S. Army
reopened the Iditarod Trail in 1972,
A. more people could compete in the Iditarod race
B. the mushers had to get permission from the U.S. Army to hold the race
C. the trail was cleared all the way to Nome
D. the Iditarod race became a seasonal Army competition
Keys: 1.A 2.C 3.B 4.A 5.C 6.C

Listening Comprehension Test for 11th Form Students

“The Box of Robbers” from American Fairy Tales by L. Frank Baum

Glossary:
tarnished – тьмяний, неяскравий
brassheaded – жовтувато-мідний
tanned – засмаглий на сонці
laced - шнурований
No one intended to leave Martha alone that afternoon, but it happened that
everyone was called away, for one reason or another. Mrs. McFarland was attending
the weekly card party held by the Women's Anti-Gambling League. Sister Nell's
young man had called quite unexpectedly to take her for a long drive. Papa was at the
office, as usual. It was Mary Ann's day out. As for Emeline, she certainly should have
stayed in the house and looked after the little girl; but Emeline had a restless nature.
"Would you mind, miss, if I just crossed the alley to speak a word to Mrs.
Carleton's girl?" she asked Martha.
"'Course not," replied the child. "You'd better lock the back door, though, and
take the key, for I shall be upstairs."
"Oh, I'll do that, of course, miss," said the delighted maid, and ran away to
spend the afternoon with her friend, leaving Martha quite alone in the big house, and
locked in.
The little girl read a few pages in her new book, sewed a few stitches in her
embroidery and started to "play visiting" with her four favorite dolls. Then she
remembered that in the attic was a doll's playhouse that hadn't been used for months,
so she decided she would dust it and put it in order.
Filled with this idea, the girl climbed the winding stairs to the big room under
the roof. It was well lit by three dormer windows and was warm and pleasant. Around
the walls were rows of boxes and trunks, piles of old carpeting, pieces of damaged
furniture, bundles of discarded clothing and other odds and ends of more or less
value. Every well-regulated house has an attic of this sort, so I need not describe it.
The doll's house had been moved, but after a search Martha found it away over
in a corner near the big chimney.
She drew it out and noticed that behind it was a black wooden chest which
Uncle Walter had sent over from Italy years and years ago – before Martha was born,
in fact. Mamma had told her about it one day; how there was no key to it, because
Uncle Walter wished it to remain unopened until he returned home; and how this
wandering uncle, who was a mighty hunter, had gone into Africa to hunt elephants
and had never been heard from afterwards. The little girl looked at the chest
curiously, now that it had by accident attracted her attention.
It was quite big – bigger even than mamma's traveling trunk – and was studded
all over with tarnished brass headed nails. It was heavy, too, for when Martha tried to
lift one end of it she found she could not stir it a bit. But there was a place in the side
of the cover for a key. She stooped to examine the lock, and saw that it would take a
rather big key to open it.
Then, as you may suspect, the little girl longed to open Uncle Walter's big box
and see what was in it. For we are all curious, and little girls are just as curious as the
rest of us.
"I don't believe Uncle Walter'll ever come back," she thought. "Papa said once
that some elephant must have killed him. If I only had a key – «She stopped and
clapped her little hands together gaily as she remembered a big basket of keys on the
shelf in the linen closet. They were of all sorts and sizes; perhaps one of them would
unlock the mysterious chest!
She flew down the stairs, found the basket and returned with it to the attic.
Then she sat down before the brass-studded box and began trying one key after
another in the curious old lock. Some were too large, but most were too small. One
would go into the lock but would not turn; another stuck so fast that she feared for a
time that she would never get it out again. But at last, when the basket was almost
empty, an oddly-shaped, ancient brass key slipped easily into the lock. With a cry of
joy Martha turned the key with both hands; then she heard a sharp "click," and the
next moment the heavy lid flew up of its own accord!
The little girl leaned over the edge of the chest an instant, and the sight that met
her eyes caused her to start back in amazement.
Slowly and carefully a man unpacked himself from the chest, stepped out upon
the floor, stretched his limbs and then took off his hat and bowed politely to the
astonished child.
He was tall and thin and his face seemed badly tanned or sunburn.
Then another man emerged from the chest, yawning and rubbing his eyes like a
sleepy schoolboy. He was of middle size and his skin seemed as badly tanned as that
of the first.
While Martha stared open-mouthed at the remarkable sight a third man crawled
from the chest. He had the same complexion as his fellows, but was short and fat.
All three were dressed in a curious manner. They wore short jackets of red
velvet braided with gold, and knee trousers of sky-blue satin with silver buttons. Over
their stockings were laced wide ribbons of red and yellow and blue, while their hats
had broad brims with high, peaked crowns, from which fluttered yards of bright-
colored ribbons.
They had big gold rings in their ears and rows of knives and pistols in their
belts. Their eyes were black and glittering and they wore long, fierce mustaches,
curling at the ends like a pig's tail.
 І. Аудіювання та виконання завдань до тексту у тестовій формі

Task 1 .through 10 (on your answer sheet circle + if the statement is true, - if it is
false).
1. Martha’s father doesn’t work a lot. -
2. Martha didn’t want to be left alone in the house. -
3. Martha first went to the attic to find a doll’s playhouse. +
4. The author thought that Martha’s attic was very typical. +
5. The doll’s house was in front of a black wooden chest. -
6. Martha moved the chest before she opened it. -
7. Most of the keys Martha tried in the lock were too big. -
8. The first man to step out of the chest did so politely. +
9. The second man to step out of the chest was the fattest. -
10.The men had weapons. +

Task 2. Multiple choice. For each question, listen to the story and decide which of the
statements is the best answer.
Questions 11 through 20 (on your answer sheet circle the correct letter A, B,
C, or D).
11.Mrs. McFarland…
A. was gambling.
B. was working.
C. was playing cards.
D. had the day off.
12. Emeline was Martha’s…
A. sister.
B. mother.
C. friend.
D. maid.
13. All of these were in the attic EXCEPT…
A. rows of boxes.
B. windows.
C. odds and ends.
D. a basket of keys.
14. The chest…
A. had never been in the attic before.
B. had recently been sent from Italy.
C. had been in the attic for many years.
D. had come from Africa many years ago.

15. According to the text, Uncle Walter was many things EXCEPT…
A. a mighty hunter.
B. an alligator wrestler.
C. a world traveler.
D. a victim of a horrible elephant attack.
16. Judging by the lock on the trunk, the key would have to be…
A. brass.
B. oddly-shaped.
C. long.
D. big.
17.The key that opened the chest was…
A. the first key Martha took out of the basket.
B. one of the first keys Martha took out of the basket.
C. one of the last keys left in the basket.
D. the last key left in the basket.
18. The men had …
A. dark skin and earrings.
B. short moustaches and rings on their fingers.
C. brown eyes and pig-tails.
D. plain clothes and swords.

19. The men’s clothing included…

A. red velvet trousers.
B. sky-blue jackets.
C. golden stockings.
D. hats with ribbons.

20. In this story, Martha is everything EXCEPT…

A. curious.
B. illogical.
C. independent.
D. amazed