STATE EXAM PRACTICE TESTModule 1: Reading Comprehensionand
Language Awareness
Name:
..................................................................
ACTIVITY 1Read the text below and do steps 1-2.
Who on earth would voluntarily put up with four weeks of misery:
showering in cold water, sleeping on uncomfortable beds, eating
horrible food and having a mark taken off for each spelling mistake
in an exam? Is this a pupils worst nightmare? It seems that it was
for a group of 30 British pupils and nine teachers, who took part
in a Channel 4 television experiment going to school 1950s style.
The resulting reality show Thatll Teach Em caused a controversy
amongst television and educational experts and also the general
public.
In the show, producers recreated a typical 1950s boarding school
with an authentic atmosphere. Apart from the lack of physical
punishment an accepted part of the old system and the concept of
co-education, which in those days was nonexistent in boarding
schools, Channel 4 did a pretty good job. The main objectives of
the programme were to test how todays pupils would cope with silent
classrooms ruled by stern teachers and to see whether academic
standards have dropped since the 1950s.
And it is the question of standards that is most problematic.
All over Europe, it seems, parents and educationalists alike are
complaining about falling standards. Some blame the lack of
discipline, while others say the drop in standards dates back to
the day physical punishment was banned in schools. But were
academic standards higher in the past? And did pupils learn better
in a disciplined classroom?
In order to make a fair comparison between the past and the
present, only good pupils were chosen as participants. They spent
their school day studying various subjects, but were prepared to
sit state O-level exams in three: English, maths and history. Their
teachers employed 1950s methods of instruction. For example, rather
than study literature texts through discussion, pupils were
expected to learn large chunks by heart.Pupils also struggled with
maths problems without the help of calculators because in the 50s,
pupils worked out maths problems in their heads.
The classroom was also completely different. Tables were never
arranged in pupil-friendly clusters to facilitate group work. In
Thatll Teach Em, pupils sat alone at old-fashioned desks arranged
in rows. Group work was unheard of 50 years ago. Participants were
also exposed to the conditions of boarding school life. Young
participants no longer had the comforts of home to look forward to
when the school bell rang; bedrooms had been replaced by spartan
dormitories, hot showers by cold baths and family meals by
fattening school dinners.
Interestingly, Thatll Teach Em is not just a title, but an
idiomatic expression referring to punishment a person receives for
bad behavior in order to teach them not to do it again. And with
some participants, it worked. The experience of being whisked back
in time, separated from family and friends and putting up with
cameras everywhere was not easy. In the early days of the show, one
participant, Holly McGuire, actually burst into tears and begged to
be taken home. However, that same pupil later changed her mind. She
found that the strict environment had been beneficial; she had
developed greater respect for her teachers, self-discipline and the
ability to do a variety of tasks from making beds to knitting. She
even admitted enjoying lessons in deportment finding instruction in
how to stand and walk correctly most helpful. Today, she considers
herself a graceful, self-controlled, confident individual who can
state her opinions freely.The question is whether strict discipline
and traditional methods would produce the same response in all
pupils.
Step 1:Read the text once and choose the best answer (A, B, or
C) for items 1-4.
1.This text probably appeared in
A. an educational journal. B. a newspaper.C.a book on the
history of education.
2. A suitable title for this text is
A. New Trends in Reality TV B.Where Did We Go Wrong?C.Was
Stricter Better?
3. The aim of the text is to discuss
A. changing academicB. boarding schools today C.a new reality
show and
standards.
and in the 1950s.
the idea behind it.
4. This text seems to suggest that
A.pupils should go to B.academic standards areC.more discipline
in schools
boarding schools.
higher today.
might be beneficial.
Step 2:Read the text again carefully and choose the best answer
(A, B, or C) for items 5-10.
5.According to the text, in boarding schools of the 1950s
A. boys and girls studied together. B. pupils were of a higher
C. living conditions were harsh.
academic level.
6. According to the text, how do some people explain falling
academic standards?
A. Hitting pupils is forbidden now.B.Pupils have too many homeC.
Pupils lack self-control.
comforts.
7. What does the writer suggest about 1950s teaching
methods?
A. Pupil interaction was oftenB.Pupils had to memorise
partsC.Pupils discussed more
encouraged.
of books.
difficult texts.
8. The children taking part in the reality show
A. lived at the school. B.went home every evening. C. found the
maths lessons easy.
9. The participant Holly McGuire is mentioned in order to
show
A. the negative psychologicalB. the difficulties of
participatingC. the inability of todays pupils
effects of reality shows.
in such an experiment.
to cope with discipline.
10. According to the text, pupils in 1950s boarding schools
A. only took exams in three subjects.B.expressed themselves
confidently.C. learned non-academic subjects too.
ACTIVITY 2Step 1:Below there is part of a leaflet on the causes
of forest fires. Read it and for each gap (11-16) choose the best
option (A-H). There are two options you do not need.
A.otherB.minorC.moreD.alternative
E.nearerF.seasonalG.naturalH.most
According to the WWF, the Mediterranean is one of the (11)
...... important regions in the world for its outstanding
biodiversity. Mediterranean forests contain 25,000 floral species,
representing 10% of the worlds flowering plants. They also play
host to an amazing variety of wildlife.
However, Mediterranean forests are under serious threat from
forest fires. Every year, more than 50,000 fires burn an area
comparable to the size of the island of Crete. While small-scale
fires are part of the (12) ...... dynamics of woodlands,
large-scale forest fires have increased dramatically. Of all forest
fires, 95% are caused either deliberately or by carelessness. The
consequences are devastating: forest fires increase soil erosion
and ultimately lead to the formation of deserts.
Some forest fires are man-made: they are set deliberately to
clear land and prepare it for grazing, fertilisation or crop
planting, while (13) ...... fires are caused by carelessness. Mass
tourism has increased the numbers of (14) ...... visitors to
forests. Campers toss away cigarettes or leave fires burning.
Discarded glass bottles reflect the suns rays onto the forest
floor, which spontaneously bursts into flames. Most disturbing are
the forest fires resulting from arson, a serious crime in
Greece.
Climate change has also given rise to periods of high
temperatures, dry air and strong wind perfect conditions for a
forest fire, which can destroy large areas of land. For example, in
August 2000 the island of Samos lost the whole of its brutia pine
forests, which provided islanders with their only (15) ......
income to tourism. As a result, (16) ...... than 50% of all tourist
bookings for 2001 were cancelled. In the summer of 2007, heat waves
and drought contributed to the worst fire season on record in the
past 50 years, with more than 3,000 forest fires resulting in the
deaths of more than 60 people. WWF Greece has launched a campaign
called Forests For Ever, aiming to improve fire prevention and
promote forest restoration.
If you go out for a picnic in a forest, follow these
guidelines:
avoid building fires on days of low humidity and high
temperatures
do not build fires close to homes or property
build fires away from trees and dry bushes
never leave a fire unattended
always make sure you put out a fire before leaving
Step 2:Decide which of the subtitles below (17-19) could have
appeared in this text. Choose A (Yes), B (No), or C (Unlikely).
subtitlesA
(yes)B
(No)C
(Unlikely)
17.A forests Greatest enemy man
18.large Forest fires are natural and keep forests healthy
19.Climate change is increasing Europes deserts
ACTIVITY 3Read items 20-25 and decide what groups of people
these notices might be aimed at. Use each of the options (A-H)
below only once. There are two options you do not need.
A.patientsB.investorsC.TV viewersD.a football team
E.cinema audienceF.driversG.dinersH.underground passengers
20.Vehicles and contents are left at owners risk.
21.Guaranteed 6.5% return on capital in medium to long-term
funds.
22.We apologise for any interruption in programming. Normal
services will be resumed as soon as possible.
23.The hospital cannot be held responsible for the theft or loss
of personal belongings.
24.Players Dressing Room No Unauthorised Admittance
25.Stand clear of the doors please. mind the gap.
ACTIVITY 4Use the expressions with time below (A-H) to complete
utterances 26-30 so that they make sense, as in the example (0).
Use each option only once. There are two options you do not
need.
A.kill timeB.time fliesC.tell the timeD.race against time
E.take your timeF.its high timeG.a bad timeH.time will tell
0.At this moment I dont know if hes made the right decision. I
suppose .......................... .H
26.John is almost 30 years old and still living at home. ......
he found his own apartment.
27.Hello, Susan. Are you busy? Have I called at ...... or do you
have a few minutes to talk to me?
28.Dont worry, theres no rush. The taxi wont be here for another
hour so ...... .
29.Our flight was delayed for three hours so rather than just
sit around bored, I read a book to ...... .
30.Danny is only six years old and he can already ...... .
ACTIVITY 5Use the expressions below (A-F) only once to complete
items 31-35 in Column A. The sentences in Column B will help you.
There is one option you do not need.
A.I cant stand itB.You were supposed toC.Wed rather
D.Whatever you doE.What we could doF.You had better
COLUMN ACOLUMN B
31....... is reorganise the department into teams.Offering a
suggestion
32....... you didnt smoke in this office, thank you.Politely
refusing permission
33.Its already 8.30 pm. ...... get a move on if you want to
catch that train.Giving strong advice
34....... when mobile phones ring during a concert.Expressing
annoyance or dislike
35....... have finished your project by the end of
June.Expressing expectation
ACTIVITY 6Step 1:Look at the information from a leaflet below
and choose the best answer (A, B, or C) for items 36-37.
36. This part of the leaflet could also contain information
about
A. courses available at the B.other places of interest
C.forthcoming events and
University of Warwick.
in Warwick.
performances.
37. At which venue will the audience feel part of a small
group?
A. TheatreB. Studio Theatre C.Butterworth Hall
WARWICK ARTS CENTRE Warwick Arts Centre consists of four
separate venues plus an art gallery, as well as a number of other
facilities. The complex forms part of the University of Warwick and
boasts a varied programme of events with something to suit all
tastes, thus attracting in the region of 25,000 visitors
annually.
VenuesButterworth Hall a concert hall with a seating capacity of
1,500 for classical concerts, music gigs and performances by
comediansTheatre staging British and international plays, in
addition to contemporary dance productions
Studio Theatre an intimate venue with flexible seating up to 180
for small-scale productions
Cinema screening independent films all year round
Mead Gallery a spacious art gallery with ongoing exhibitions
free admission
Step 2:Now read the next page of the leaflet and match each
option below (A-F) with the gaps in the leaflet (38-41). There are
two options you do not need.
A.a range of talks and workshops is available for older students
tooB.including the box office, the marketing department and the
technical side of the auditorium
C.the Arts Centre also runs a Youth TheatreD.tickets for
performances are offered at a special rate
E.theres a chance to find out what its likeF.whatever their
focus
Education ProjectsOf particular interest are the educational
programmes run by the complex. These offer local school children an
opportunity to get involved in the arts. Events may take the form
of a film workshop focusing on animation, for example. Participants
could be involved in putting on a theatrical or musical performance
or even composing a soundtrack for a film. In many cases, the bulk
of the work is done in the school in cooperation with the arts
centre. All these programmes, (38) ...... , have one element in
common: they offer youngsters a challenging, yet stimulating
experience; one which often leads to a life-long love affair with
the arts.
For young people with an interest in drama, (39) ...... ,
catering for four different age groups: 8-10, 11-13, 14-15 and
16-18. Members get together on a weekly basis and are taught a
number of skills, including mime and improvisation. All of this
hard work culminates during the summer with the staging of a
production for family and friends in the Studio Theatre.
However, educational opportunities at Warwick Arts Centre are
not restricted to the under-18s, as (40) ...... .
Work Experience
In order to function smoothly and offer the wide range of
activities, performances and facilities that it does, Warwick Arts
Centre employs staff in a diversity of roles in its many different
departments. Students can get a behind-the-scenes look at the
day-to-day running of the centre through work placement programs.
This represents the ideal opportunity to experience first-hand what
it is like to work in an arts centre since students are taken into
various settings (41) ...... .
Step 3:The words on the left are from the leaflet about Warwick
Arts Centre. Insert the correct form of the words to complete
sentences 42-45 below, as in the example.
varied0.The school offers a wide ........................... of
courses in the arts and sciences.
suit
interest
form
restricted42.Jeans and a T-shirt are not
........................... clothes for a job interview.
43.Sue never watches the news and is totally
........................... in politics.
44.Peter is deeply involved in the ...........................
of a new folk dance group.
45.There are no ........................... on the number of
students applying for grants.
ACTIVITY 7Solve the puzzle. Fill in the words connected with
holidays which match the definitions in items 46-50. The filled in
letters will help you. (These letters form the word Hotel.)
46.____________H_________
47.___O__________________
48._____________________T
49.__________________E____________
50.L__________________
46.A small magazine or booklet about holiday destinations.
47.An item you buy to remember a country you visited.
48.The official document you show as you enter or leave a
country.
49.What you do when visiting tourist attractions and interesting
places.
50.The suitcases and bags you take on holiday.
ACTIVITY 1
Imagine you are a lifeguard at a popular holiday resort.
Recently, a number of holidaymakers have suffered accidents on the
beach. You have been given the task of writing an information
leaflet with advice for holidaymakers on how to avoid such
accidents. The leaflet will be in English, because most of the
holidaymakers who come to the resort are from abroad.
The leaflet has been started for you, below. Continue by adding
about 150 words.
start by informing people how to behave when swimming
then, give some advice on how to avoid getting sunburnt
finish the leaflet by saying how important safety on the beach
is. Wish people a happy (and safe!) summer holiday.
The perfect summer holiday includes lazy days at the beach. Make
sure your time at the beach is a fun experience by following this
advice.
ACTIVITY 2Imagine you are the editor of Your Europe, a monthly
English-language magazine for young people in Europe. On an EU
government web site you saw the results of a recent survey (below)
and have decided to write an article about this topic for the next
edition.
Write your article in about 150 words, using the information
below.
first, explain what the survey was about
next, say what the survey shows
finally, say whether the results of the survey are true for
Greece
ACTIVITY 1
You will hear three different announcements TWICE. After each
listening, you must respond to a different item.
A.
Read item 1. Listen and respond.
1.Where might you hear this announcement?
A.A bus station.
B.An airport lounge.
c.A train station.
Read item 2. Listen again and respond.
2.What is the purpose of the announcement?
A.To give some information about tickets.
B.To give a weather update.
c.To warn of disruptions in services.
B.
Read item 3. Listen and respond.
3.Where might you hear this announcement?
A.In a shopping centre.
B.In a sports centre.
c.In a large department store.
Read item 4. Listen again and respond.
4.Why is this announcement being made?
A.To raise public awareness.
B.To notify parents of a lost child.
c.To review safety procedures.
C.
Read item 5. Listen and respond.
5.Where might you hear this announcement?
A.In a luxury hotel.
B.On board a ship.
c.On board a plane.
Read item 6. Listen again and respond.
6.What does the announcement suggest people do?
A.Collect their safety equipment.
B.Meet at the dining room immediately.
c.Read the emergency regulations.
ACTIVITY 2Step 1:Read items 7 and 8 below, then listen to the
two people having a conversation and choose the best answer (A, B
or C).
7.The man and woman
A.had very similar experiences abroad.
B.both lived abroad for a period of time.
C.were students together at a foreign university.
8.According to the woman, she
A.found travelling home expensive.
B.only went home for holidays.
c.missed her home very much.Step 2:Read items 9-10. Listen AGAIN
to the same extract and choose the best answer (A, B or C).
9.How did the man feel when he first went to live abroad?
A.Many things seemed new and different.
B.He wanted to return home.
C.He felt at home immediately.
10.In what way did the womans attitude to life change?
A.She learned to be independent.
B.She learned how to deal with stressful situations.
c.She learned not to take things so seriously.
ACTIVITY 3Step 1:Read item 11. Then listen to an interview and
choose the best answer (A, B or C).
11.Who is the information aimed at?
A.teenagers
B.a radio audience
C.a group of scientists
Step 2:Listen to the interview again, and match the questions in
Column A with the answers in Column B.There is one answer you wont
need.
A. QuestionsB. Answers
12.What is said about games on the market today?A.That they need
to be alert to certain symptoms.
13.What is one point made about earlier videogames?B.They
definitely cause physical aggression.
14.What does the professor imply about parents?C.They could
easily become quite angry.
15.What kind of negative behaviour might be displayed by teens
who play constantly?D.That they could cause addictive
behaviour.
E.They demanded less from the players.
ACTIVITY 4You will hear part of a lecture only ONCE. As you
listen, fill in the missing words in the notes made by a student
below, items 16-20.
Human beings were already cooking their food one and a half
million years ago. Anthropologists think that the change from raw
to cooked food was of (16) ...............................
............................... for human development. It explains
why the brains of humans became (17)
............................... and why they started to walk
upright on two feet.
The reason scientists believe people were cooking their food by
that time is the (18) ............................... of burnt
bones have been found.
Cooked food had a number of advantages over raw food:
1.It was easier to (19) ............................... it
safely for a long time.2.It was easier to digest.
This new diet of cooked food led to a change in human beings. It
gave them better (20) ...............................
abilities.
time will tell
variety
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