Reading Comprehension III

READING COMPREHENSION III


THE ARTICLE
Children are using and owning consumer electronics from a younger age than ever before, according to US market researcher NPD. Its research shows the average age at which children begin using computers, games and other electronic gadgets has declined from 8.1 years in 2005 to 6.7 years in 2007. The NPD report, “Kids and Consumer Electronics Trends III”, says the youngest consumers are also getting choosy about what they buy. More and more young children now own a DVD player, portable video game, digital camera or cell phone. NPD’s Anita Frazier said: “Kids are drawn to the latest and greatest digital devices just as their parents are.” She added: “They appear to have no fear of technology and adopt it easily and without fanfare, making these devices a part of their everyday lives.”
The study is based on data collected via an online survey to a sample of American adults aged 25 and older who had children aged between four and fourteen. The survey also found that kids use electronic devices an average of three days per week. Surprisingly, many of the families surveyed were not regular consumer electronics buyers. Almost 25 percent of parents surveyed said they had made no electronics purchases during the previous 12 months. Father of two Robert Garside, 38, said he was amazed at what his children want to buy. He admits to often having to ask his nine-year-old how to operate his Sony PlayStation. “Children nowadays are so tech savvy that soon Sony will bring out a PlayStation for babies,” he said. His son Robert Junior said all the gadgets around him really were child’s play.

1. TRUE / FALSE:
More and more kids are designing and selling computer software.

The average age at which kids start using gadgets has fallen.

Young consumers really don’t care what kind of gadgets they buy.

Young children seem frightened of electronic devices.

The data were collected from many simple American adults.

A quarter of parents surveyed don’t buy gadgets regularly.

A father had to teach his son how to use Sony’s PlayStation.

Sony will soon bring out a version of its PlayStation for newborns.

Adjectives ed/ing

Complete the sentences using -ing adjectives or -ed adjectives.

Example: The girl seemed __b___ in my thoughts and opinions.
a) interested b) interested .

1. The children looked _____ by the old toys.
a) fascinated b) fascinating
2. I felt _____ after just a short time in the forest.
a) invigorated b) invigorating
3. It was very _____ to win our first game of the season.
a) bad b) badly
4. The recent downward trend in poverty seems _____.
a) encouraged b) encouraging
5. _____ at the thought of moving away, Jonathon began to cry.
a) Terrified b) Terrifying
6. When you're not in good spirits, it is _____ to stay in bed all day.
a) tempted b) tempting
7. One finding that appeared _____ was that birth rates were declining.
a) troubled b) troubling
8. Never had Ann felt so _____ by the landscape she traveled through.
a) charmed b) charming
9. As _____ as it is to be with others, it's crucial to spend some time alone. .
a) comforted b) comforting
10. The working mother was _____ at the thought of being labeled a "homemaker."
a) amused b) amusing


Choose the answer you think is correct.

1
Jennifer is _____ because she's getting married today.
excited exciting
2
David is so _____, all he talks about is his computer.
bored boring

3
I'm really _____ about my interivew.
worried worrying
4
Niran was _____ to get a letter from his ex-girlfriend.
surprised surprising

5
There's nothing _____ on TV tonight.
interested interesting
6
Javier had a very _____ holiday in Greece.
relaxed relaxing

Complete
Sue: Hi, Jane. Have you had an (interest)_____________ day?
Jane: I've had a very (excite) _________day. It's my birthday today.
Sue: I'm a little (confuse)___________. I thought your birthday was next month.
Jane No, that's my brother's birthday. Mine is today.
Sue: Oh! Now I'm (embarrass)____________. I didn't get you a present.
Jane: That's (disappoint_____________. But it's OK.
Sue: Now I'm (depress)__________, too.
Hey, I've just had a (fascinate)____________ idea.
Why don't we go shopping and get you a present right now? That way we can get you something really (please)___________.
Jane: What an (enchant)_________ idea. Where shall we start?
Sue: What about right here?
Bill: Hi, Mark. You look (tire)______________.
Mark: I am. I'm totally (exhaust) _______________
. Bill: Why? What have you been doing?
Mark: I've been getting my house ready for the painters to come tomorrow. Now they ring me to tell me, yet again, that they can't come till next week. I'm getting very (annoy)________ with them..
Bill: That's (disappoint)____________.
I'll bet that you'll be (please) ____________when it's finished.
Mark: You're not wrong! I'm starting to get very (bore) _________with all the delays.
It's (distress)____________.
Bill: You must be so (frustrate)__________. When do they think they will finish painting you house.
Mark: They say that it will take about two weeks to finish. But when they will start I don't know.
Bill: Don't be too (depress)__________.
Just think of how (relieve)__________ you'll be when it's finished.
Mark: That's the (frighten)_________ thing. I'm starting to believe that it will never be finished.
Bill: What a (shock)__________ thought.
Never mind. One day soon you'll wake up with the (relax) __________thought that it's finished and you don't have to worry about it anymore.
Mark: I hope you're right.

Short jokes!!

1. What do you call a sheep with no legs?A cloud.

2. Doctor! I have a serious problem, I can never remember what I just said.When did you first notice this problem?
What problem?

3. What is the difference between man and Superman?Man wears underwear under the trousers and Superman wears it over the trousers.

4. Sam: Would you punish me for some thing I didn't do?Teacher: No, of course not. Sam: good, because I didn't do my homework.

5.How can you tell when a lawyer is lying?His lips are moving.

6.Why won't sharks attack lawyers?Professional courtesy.

7. How many politicians does it take to change a lightbulb ?Two. One to change it, and another one to change it back again.

8.You have to stay in shape. My grandmother started walking five miles a day when she was 60. She's 97 today and we don't know where she is.

9.I think men who have pierced ears are better prepared for marriage. They have experienced pain and bought jewelry.

10.I'm not into working out. My philosophy: No pain. No pain.

11.I went into MacDonalds yesterday and said "I'd like some fries". The girl at the counter said "Would you like some fries with that".

Confusing words- come and go

1 Fill the gaps with come or go.
1
Everybody's going to the bowling alley, including me. Why don't you ___________ too?
2
I'd love to ___________ to Budapest one day.
3
Hi Sarah. This is Clare. I'm at Lizzy's party. Why don't you ___________ ?
4
There's a good film on at The Apollo. Why don't we ___________ ?
5
Let's ___________ to the park and fly kites.
6
I loved Paris. I want to ___________ back there one day.
7
Darling, please don't go. I love you. ___________ back!
8
___________ and see Lord of The Rings. I recommend it.
9
You've been a great guest. ___________ again whenever you want.
10
Hi Tom. This is Tony. Why don't you ___________ round and we can watch a DVD.

2 Try these. Use each verb once only.
be
come
coming round
get away
going home
are back
come on
get
get home
go out

1
What time did you __________________ last night? I didn't hear you come in.
2
Mum, can I __________________ with Charles and Sophie tonight?
3
__________________ here a minute. There's something I want to show you, Sugar.
4
__________________ out! I want to be alone.
5
Make sure you __________________ home in time for lunch.
6
Jimmy is __________________ later to play video games.
7
I'm stressed. I need to __________________ for a while.
8
What's the time? I've got to __________________ back home by twelve.
9
I'm __________________ now. I've had enough of this rubbish disco.
10
__________________ ! We're going to be late.

Future- going to or will?

going to
-plans
-when you can see what's going to happen


will
-immediate decisions
-scientific predictions



Fill the gaps with the verb in brackets using either the going to or will form of the future tense.
1
Sally: There's no milk left!
Betty: Oh. I _______________ some from the shop. (get)
2
The population of Valencia _______________ 2 million by the year 2010. (reach)
3
Mum: I told you to tidy up your room.
Son: Sorry, Mum, I forgot. I _______________ it after lunch.(do)
4
Sally: Why don't we meet for coffee on Friday morning?
Willy: Sorry. I can't. I _______________ the doctor then. (see)
5
"Tomorrow _______________ a bright and sunny day everywhere in Spain, except in La Coruña," said the weatherwoman. (be)
6
Look at that big black cloud. I think it _______________ . (rain)
7
Sally: What are your plans for the week-end?
Betty: Brad Pitt phoned. We _______________ on a picnic. (go)
8
Betty: Have you booked the flights yet?
Sally: Don't worry. It's all organized. I _______________ to the travel agent's tomorrow morning. (go)
9
In the future people _______________ bigger heads. (have)
10
If we miss the bus, we _______________ a taxi. (take)
11
Next month I _______________ a DVD player. (buy)
12
When _______________ you _______________ another party? (have)
13
I've got to go to the dentist this morning. _______________ you _______________ with me? (come)
14
Oh no! I think I _______________ . (sneeze)
15
Fanny: I can't open this jar.
Leslie: Give it to me. I _______________ it. (do)

Look, watch,see

Fill the gaps with look, see and watch in the correct form.
1
Urgh! I'm tired. I stayed up late last night _________________ rubbish TV.
2
Have you _________________ that documentary about stroking great white sharks?
3
_________________! A green dog.
4
_________________ out! Don't step in that dog pooh.
5
Can you _________________ that blonde girl with the glasses talking to Clare? Well, ...
6
The police have been _________________ that house for a fortnight now.
7
I don't really like him much. He never _________________ you in the eye.
8
Mum and Dad like to _________________ TV after lunch on Sundays.
9
Have you _________________ that advert on TV about the Elvis fan?
10
You can tell he hasn't acted before. He keeps _________________ at the camera.
11
I _________________ out of the window yesterday and saw a green dog. You can imagine my surprise.
12
If you look very carefully, you can _________________ how well organized the ants are.
13
Why are you _________________ at me in that funny way?
14
_________________ me closely and I'll show you how to dance the cha-cha-cha.
15
_________________ at me and I'll show you how to dance the fandango.
16
This fog's terrible. I can't _________________ a thing.

Countable and uncountable nouns

Find and correct the mistakes in these sentences. There is one mistake in each sentence.

1. I need a milk for my coffee.
2. Could you give me some informations about my town?
3. I have three favourite dish.
4. There are no butter in the fridge.
5. The views from the top of the mountain is amazing.
6. Jack has black hairs.
7. There are too much milk in this cup of coffee.

Make questions using HOW MUCH....? or HOW MANY...? and a noun and a verb in each question.

languages (speak) mone(have) time (spend) fruit (eat) brothers and sisters(have) CDs (own) sports (play)

1) ___________________________________________?
Only football.

2) ___________________________________ in your pocket?
About $20.

3) ______________________________________________?
One brother and two sisters.

4) _____________________________________ everyday?
Usually a banana and an apple.

5) _____________________________________________?
Three. Spanish, English and French.

6) ______________________________________________?
I'm not sure. About 100 I think.

7) ___________________________________ on your homework?
About two hors. I had a lot.

Vocabulary- Clothes and accessories

Put these clothes under the correct heading.

boots skirt gloves sweater blouse scarf belt tights jacket dress shorts trainers T-shirt sweatshirt bra jeans trousers necklace bracelet

Usually worn by women Worn by men and women

Prepositions of place

Read the text below and choose the correct preposition for each space.

I live0 _____ a very small town so it's impossible to get lost. My school is 1_______ to my house so I don't need to walk far.In front 2_______ the school there's a bus stop where children get on the bus. The bus goes 3_________ the town picking everyone up
4_______ the same side of the road as my school there are two other buildings- a museum and a library. My school is 5_________ them.
We sometimes go to the library after school or we sometimes play 6_______ the park. At weekends I stay 7_______ home or go out with my friends.

0. on -at -in -into

1.next -beside -opposie -behind

2. from -to -of -at

3.around -over -by -along

4.at -on -in -by

5. across -between- next -opposite

6. on -at -in -to

7. in -on -to -at

Writing practice

WRITING TOPICS

1. My craziest experience in a restaurant or shopping mall
2. An unforgettable dream
3. The hardest thing I've ever done
4. My worst vacation
5. My first encounter with a bully
6. A "visit" to a hospital, doctor's office, or dentist's office
7. Let's hear it for my favorite senior citizen.
8. Coping with brothers and sisters
9. The toys I'll never give up
10. A typical evening at home
11. A friend who moved away
12. Morning madness
13. I couldn't believe that my mother volunteered me for that job.
14. When I was a discipline problem
15. Putting my foot in my mouth
16. A meaningful gift I've given or received
17. What if school sports were dropped?
18. We all make mistakes.
19.Who knows me best?
20. Why do I deserve the job?
21.What do I worry about?
22. My brother (or sister) made me so mad!
23. My muscles were so sore after . . .
24. Hanging out
25. Something this school really needs is . . .
26. What do we Americans do well?
27. Why are soap operas so popular?
28."I take some things too seriously.
29. What do I do to break routine?

Making questions

Making questions

1. The student strike will take place tomorrow.
__________________________________________?

2. The students will picket in front of the school.
__________________________________________?

3. They are picketing because they do not want the government to reduce the budget for education.
__________________________________________?
4. Some students came to school by train
__________________________________________?
5. Others walked carefully on the ice.
__________________________________________?
6. There were about 100 students in front of the building.
__________________________________________?
7. They made a lot of noise.
__________________________________________?
8. It was so cold that the students could see their breath.
__________________________________________?
9. In spite of the weather, the students protested all day long.
__________________________________________?
10. They will have another demonstration very soon.
__________________________________________?
11. Pierre was at the front door.
__________________________________________?
12. Marie and Claude were there too.
__________________________________________?
13. The students want to make sure that no one enters the building.
__________________________________________?
14. The students watched the teachers drive away.
__________________________________________?
15. The protesters informed the students of the budget problems.
__________________________________________?
16. Jean's class was cancelled last week.
__________________________________________?
17. Jean's class is always cancelled.
__________________________________________?
18. This was a political action.
__________________________________________?
19. Of the two choices of action, the students picked the strike.
__________________________________________?
20. The strike ended at 3:00 PM.
__________________________________________?

Tenses

Tenses


1. When Carol (call) _______last night, I (watch)________ my favorite show on television.
2. I (work) __________for this company for more than thirty years, and I intend to stay here until I retire!
3. Sharon (love) _________to travel. She (go) _______abroad almost every summer. Next year, she plans to go to Peru.
4. Thomas is an author. He (write)_______ mystery novels and travel memoirs. He (write) __________since he was twenty-eight. Altogether, he (write) _________seven novels, three collections of short stories and a book of poetry.
5. Sam (try) _________to change a light bulb when he (slip) _____and (fell) _________.
6. Everyday I (wake) ________up at 6 o'clock, (eat) ______breakfast at 7 o'clock and (leave)_________ for work at 8 o'clock. However, this morning I (get) _______up at 6:30, (skip) _______breakfast and (leave) _______for work late.
7. Right now, Jim (read)_______ the newspaper and Kathy (make) ________dinner. Last night at this time, they (do) ________the same thing. She (cook) _______and he (read) _______the newspaper.
8. The students (be, usually) ___________taught by Mrs. Monty. However, this week they (be)____________ taught by Mr. Tanzer.
9. Jane talks on the phone. Bob has been talking on the phone for an hour. Mary is talking on the phone. Who is not necessarily on the phone now?
10. I'm going to make dinner for Frank.I'm making dinner for Judy.I'll make dinner for Mary.I make dinner for Ted.I will be making dinner for Tony.Who are you offering to make dinner for?
11.Jane is talking in class. Bob always talks in class. Mary is always talking in class. Whose action bothers you?
12.Jane never left Jamestown. Bob has never left Jamestown. Who is still alive?

Speaking 2
Neighbors at odds
role cards

Resident of APT 202:
It's 7:00 AM. You were up until 4:00 AM preparing for an important business meeting. You have to give your presentation at 9:30, and you really need another hour or two to sleep. You can't sleep because the person who lives downstairs is playing the drums.

Resident of APT 102:
It's 7:00 AM. You are a drummer, and a music major. Today is your senior recital. If you don't play well you can't graduate so you have to practice as much as possible.

Speaking 3

Conflict resolution role cards (first date between a Korean woman and Canadian man) - an intercultural roleplay

Canadian:
You are a Canadian man. You are having your first date with a Korean exchange student. You took her to a diner. Your hamburger and coke come to about 10 dollars so you take out 13 dollars. Your date ordered spaghetti and meatballs, garlic bread, and a coke. That comes to 14.00 so you ask your date for 17.00. She should actually put in 17.50, but you want to seem like a nice guy, not a cheap guy. This should improve your chances of getting to kiss your date good night.When you ask her for the money, it seems to upset her. Use the 4 steps to solve this problem.

1. Both people explain what they find unusual about the other's behavior.
2. Each person realizes the other's cultural perceptions.
3. Each person learns how the problem would be handled in the other's culture.
4. Together, the two people develop conflict solutions.

Korean:
You are a Korean exchange student. You are on your first date in Canada. You've just enjoyed a great dinner, but the meals in Canadian diners are too big and you couldn't finish. Your date helped you by eating one of your two large meatballs and one of your 3 pieces of garlic bread. Now he's asking you for 17.00 but you don't understand why he asked you out on a date and is unwilling to pay for your meal, especially on the first date. He should pay for the meal and you should buy coffee afterwards. Plus he wants you to pay for everything you ordered, even though he had one of your meatballs and one piece of garlic bread. Is he cheap or is there some cultural conflict at work here? Use the 4 steps to solve the problem.

1. Both people explain what they find unusual about the other's behavior.
2. Each person realizes the other's cultural perceptions.
3. Each person learns how the problem would be handled in the other's culture.
4. Together, the two people develop conflict solutions.

Speaking 4

Unbelievable story
role cards -
In this roleplay, students have to express disbelief.

Taxi driver:
Today, Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman were running away from paparazzi when they got in your cab. You took them to LAX (Los Angeles airport). Tell your friend about what happened.

Driver's friend:
Your friend is always making up stories about meeting celebrities. Politely tell your friend that you're tired of hearing make-believe stories.

Speaking activities

SPEAKING


A shopping role play A shopping role playWorksheet B: ShopkeepersList

1You have a computer shop. You have the following in stock:- Blank CDs to burn music – these are on special offer- You are out of stock of extension leads for MP3 players- Paper for printers – you have low, medium and high quality, but the high qualityis very expensive- Headphones for computers – you have them with a microphone or without- Pens that you can use to write on CDs – you have blue and red onlyYou don’t let people put cards in your window and don’t know what time it is, or wherethe nearest bank is. You do know where the nearest post office is, and you have changefor 10 pounds.

List 2You have a newsagent’s. You have the following in stock:- Newspapers. You only have the ‘Independent’, the ‘Sun’ and the ‘Mirror’- ‘Film Review’ magazine. This week if people pay extra they can get the specialguide to summer films also- Chewing gum. You have peppermint, cherry and banana.- Stamps. You have first and second class, in books of 10 and 20.Somewholemeal bread- Telephone cards to make international calls, at different valuesYou let people put cards in your window but don’t know what time it is, or where thenearest bank or post office is. You have no change.

List 3You have a bookshop specialising in learning languages. You have the following instock:- Bilingual dictionaries for English and Spanish, French, Chinese and Arabic.- Guides to English grammar for intermediate levels and below- Vocabulary practice books, but no grammar practice books at the moment- Special dictionaries for idioms and also for phrasal verbs- Monolingual dictionaries, English-English, for all levels but only large sizeeditionsYou don’t let people put cards in your window and don’t know what time it is, but you doknow where the nearest bank is. You have no change.

List 4You have a shop selling fruit and vegetables. You have the following in stock:- Mangos, ripe and ready to eat today- Oranges- Bananas, for both dessert and cooking- Peaches, which you are trying to get people to buy instead of nectarines- Apples, green and crispyYou don’t let people put cards in your window and don’t know where the nearest bank ofpost office is. You have no change but do know what the time is.

List 5You have a small supermarket. You have the following in stock:- Salted butter- Instant noodles, in pots and packets, but only spicy ones- Full-fat and low-fat milk- Black pepper, in powder and as corns- White breadYou let people put cards in your window but don’t know what time it is, or where thenearest banks or post offices are. You have change for 10 pounds.



A shopping role play


Worksheet A:
1Here are the things you need to buy

- a blank CD to burn some music on your laptop
- a newspaper, preferably ‘The Guardian’ or ‘The Independent’
- Some low-fat milk
- Half a kilo of nectarines
- A monolingual dictionary, English – English, but small enough for your pocket
You also need to change a 10 pound note for 10 one pound coins

List 2Here are the things you need to buy
- An extension lead for your MP3 player
- This week’s ‘Film Review’ magazine
- Some wholemeal bread
- Some bananas, but the ones used for cooking
- A good grammar practice book for your levelYou also need to find out what time it is, as you have lost your watch

List 3Here are the things you need to buy
- Some high quality paper for your printer
- Some chewing gum, strawberry flavour
- A couple of packets of instant noodles – you like them spicy
- A kilo of oranges
- A good guide to grammar in English
You also need to know where the nearest bank is

List 4Here are the things you need to buy
- Some headphones for your computer so you can use the internet to maketelephone calls
- A book of first class stamps, preferably 10.
- Four mangos, not quite ripe would be best
- Some black pepper corns for your pepper mill
- A bi-lingual dictionary, English – your language
You also want to put a card in the window of a shop saying that you are looking for aprivate teacher to help with your English

List 5Here are the things you need to buy
- Some unsalted butter
- A black pen that you can use to write on CDs
- a telephone card to make international calls
- half a kilo of apples. You like them red and sweet
- a dictionary of phrasal verbs
You also want to know if there is somewhere to post your letters nearby

Cloze

Read the story anf fill in the blanks with the words underneath.

Robinson CrusoeRobinson Crusoe is the name of a 1)_______ who was stranded on an island many, many years 2) _________ . He had many problems to 3) _________as he was the only person alive after the 4) ________ had sunk. One of the first things 5) ________ had to do was to build a little hut, which would serve as his new 6) _________ and would keep him dry if it started to 7) ________ . He also had to search for food, 8) _________ he knew that without food and 9) _________he would die. After searching for some 10) _________ he found clean water and trees with lots of 11) ________ in them. Little by little he also managed to build different 12) __________ of weapons, which helped him to catch wild 13) __________ and to fish.One day he noticed some footprints in the 14) ________ . He was very surprised and did not sleep much the following 15) _________ . He was afraid of what would happen if he found the other 16) __________ . The next day he took his weapons with him and went to look for the person. If you have 17) __________or heard the story then you know what happened. He found a dark man who could not speak his language. Robinson started to call the dark man 18) ___________ ,as it was on that day that he met him.Little by little the two men started to understand each other and help one 19) ________.In the end Robinson Crusoe was rescued, but that is 20) _________another story.

Choose the right option

1. house- man- mouse- newspaper

2. into- for- ago- since

3. build -man -solve -talk

4. plane- mouse- bag- ship

5. she- they- it- he

6. home- luggage- food- garage

7. travel- fire- rain- grow

8. afterwards- but- often- because

9. water- shoes- sunglasses- towels

10. timelines- decades- sand- time

11. apes- fruit- jokes- maskss

12. kinds- places- computers- windows

13. animals- flowers- pupils- children

14. sea- air- sand- pocket

15.year- day- second- chapter

16. hand- bureaucrat- person- surfer

17. red- met -whispered- read

18. Monday- Tuesday- Thursday- Friday

19. puppy- another- miserable- two

20. different- pure- tell- another

Prepositions

Preposition Exercises 1

Test your knowledge of the prepositions in / at / to / nothing - showing place and movement. Choose either in, at, to, or nothing .

He lives . . . . . . . Skwierzyna.
She went . . . . . .home.
Marcin works . . . . . . Gorzów Wlkp.
He went . . . . . . . his friend's house.
She arrived . . . . . . . Manchester for the celebrations.
I'm going to stay . . . . . . . . home this weekend.
Joanna works . . . . . . . . the hospital.
Why don't we go . . . . . . . . the movies tonight?
I'm going to see Hania . . . . . . . . France this summer.
I arrived . . . . . . . . work early this morning.
She came home . . . . . early.
We stayed . . . . . . . . . the Mieszko Hotel.
They visited . . . . . . . . England last summer.
She's going to travel . . . . . . . . . Finland this summer.
I'll be . . . . . . . . . school later today.

Preposition Exercises 2
Test you knowledge of the prepositions for / while / during. Choose either for, while or during .

He's been working . . . . . . . three weeks.
I fell asleep . . . . . . . . . the film.
Did you see Donata . . . . . . . . your holiday?
We talked . . . . . an hour.
He watched TV . . . . . . . . I cooked.
. . . . . . . . . . . our stay in London, we visited a lot of museums.
What did you do . . . . . . . . . you were in London?
I think I need to study Polish . . . . . a few months before I go there.
I came up with a great idea . . . . . . . . . I was thinking about my class.
They drove through the countryside . . . . . . . . they were staying in France.
He was out of work . . . . . six months before he found a new job.
I broke my finger . . . . . . . . . I was playing squash.
Please, don't interrupt the teacher . . . . . . . he is speaking.
Magda broke into tears . . . . . . . . the film.
Could you hold on . . . . . a few moments?

Borrow or lend?

Borrow or Lend?

When you need money, you can _________from a bank, but be prepared to pay high interest. Banks don't ___________ money as a favour. They charge for the loan. Only friends may __________ money as a favour. If you __________money from a friend, be prepared to return the favour one day. Your friend may also ask you to _________ him some money when he doesn't want to _________from a bank. On that occasion, you either ________ him money or you lose a friend.

Reading Comprehension II

ENGLISH READING TEST 1

The following are letters to the editor of a school newspaper.
Students should be allowed to study without worrying about grades. Fortunately, most educators are becoming aware of the fact that students have different interests and abilities. However, the regimentation resulting from grades still exists. Grades often stifle creativity. Competing for better grades causes many students to turn down opportunities to pursue music, dramatics and sports. Grades impose an arbitrary standard of success on everyone. I do not demand as some extremists do, that grades be abolished immediately. However, I do believe that less emphasis should be placed on grades. I hope that someday grades will become optional at Village High School.
Magdalena Smith, President,Drama Club

Let's face the facts about grades. Grades perform three basic functions. First, grades motivate students to work at their highest level of competence. Second, they act as a reward for hardworking students and as a reprimand to students who do not work hard. Finally, grades are used as an effective standard by which to measure student achievement. Good grades help students to get jobs and to get into university. I've spoken with a number of students who have jobs, and most of them say that they were hired primarily on the basis of their grades. My grades helped me land a part-time job and will help me get into university next year. I think grades are extremely important at Village High School.
Simon Harper, Member,Science Club

1. Simon Harper writes from the viewpoint of someone who
(a) wants business to hire more students
(b) believes in the benefits of good grades
(c) is concerned about students' creativity
(d) supports students' interests and abilities
(e) doesn't work too hard at his studies

2. Magdalena Smith thinks it is important for
(a) students to get good jobs
(b) students to participate in music, dramatics, and sports
(c) students to compete more for grades
(d) educators to have more control over grades
(e) students to be reprimanded for not working hard

3. Which of the following states a fact about grades at Village High School?
(a) They are not useful
(b) They stifle creativity
(c) They foster unnecessary competition
(d) They should be optional
(e) They are currently in use

4. Which of the following is NOT an opinion expressed by Magdalena Smith?
(a) Grades should be abolished.
(b) Regimentation results from grades.
(c) Grades impose arbitrary standards of success.
(d) Students should be able to learn without worrying about grades.
(e) Competition may discourage students from pursuing subjects such as drama and art.