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.