Directions: Complete each statement in the present perfect
tense, passive voice. The main verb is in parentheses.
1. The work
____________________________________. (finish)
2. Pedro
_____________________________________ yet. (pay–negative)
3. The apartment across the street
______________________________________by the police twice this week. (visit)
4. She __________________________________________ many times not to do
that anymore. (tell)
5. My car
___________________________________________yet. (fix–negative)
6. I
_____________________________________________ by a few people who want to do
business with me. (contact)
7. Wars
in that part of the world ________________________________________ for decades.
(fight)
8. That technique
_________________________________________ many times. (try)
9. These hamburgers
____________________________________________long enough. (cook–negative)
10. Our offer to buy
the building ________________________________________ with some resistance from
the city. (meet)
Directions: Complete each question in the present perfect
tense, passive voice. The main verb is in parentheses.
1. __________ that part of the world ever
_______________________________________ by people? (visit)
2. __________
the mail _________________________________________________ yet? (deliver)
3. __________
the students _____________________________________________ their books? (give)
4. __________
the problem ___________________________________________ by the city leaders?
(address)
5. __________
the thieves ___________________________________________ yet? (catch–negative)
6. __________
the money ___________________________________________ wisely? (spend)
7. Why
__________ the laundry _____________________________________ yet? (do–negative)
8. Where
___________ the prisoner _____________________________________? (take)
9. What ___________________________________________________ to help the
poor in this country? (do)
10. How many opportunities __________
you _______________________________? (give)
Directions: Rewrite
each sentence. Use “(be) used to” and a gerund for each sentence. (10 points)
Example: He didn’t know how to drive a
car until last year.
Now, he is used to driving a
car.
1. She saw snow
for the first time when she moved to Minnesota.
Now, she ______ ___________
snow in the winter.
2. Thomas had never worked early in
the morning until he began his new job.
Now, he ________ ____________ in
the morning.
3. The students didn’t speak English on
their first day of class.
Now, they ________ _________ every
day in class.
4. Jerry didn’t walk very much before he moved to
Jamaica.
Now, he ________ ______________
everywhere he goes.
5. I didn’t take the bus very often before I
moved to Chicago.
Nowadays, I ________ __________the
bus all over the city.
6. Bill and Linda are parents. They started having
kids ten years ago.
They _______ ___________ parents.
7. Belinda rarely shopped after midnight before she
got her new job.
Now, she _______ ___________ after
midnight.
8. We do our
own housework.
We _______ our cleaning ourselves.
10 (1)
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Throughout
history, cats have been at the centre of numerous superstitions regarding
good and bad luck, weather, and health and other human issues. It was
believed that cats could communicate with the souls of dead people and
animals and had supernatural abilities. Interestingly, different countries have
cat superstitions which can be similar or contradict each other. For
instance, having a black cat cross one’s path is considered bad luck in
America and various European countries. However, in Scotland, people believe
that a black kitten on the porch means future happiness and riches. In
Latvia, a legend says that black cat contains the spirit of a harvest god,
and seeing a black cat on the farm is considered a very good sign indeed. Myths
involving cats and the safety of boats at sea are also quite common. In
certain fishing communities, the wives of fisherman will keep cats indoors,
as this is believed to protect their men from danger at sea. Also, sailors
once thought that throwing a cat overboard would cause their ship to sink in
a storm. Ancient
Egyptians believed that cats caught the last rays of the setting sun in their
eyes, and they were responsible for keeping the light safe until the sun
reappeared once again the following morning. Cats were not allowed to be
killed for this reason. The Persians took advantage of this superstition and
when they went to attack Egypt, they tied cats to their shields knowing that
the Egyptians wouldn’t fight the intruders because they didn’t want to injure
or kill any of the cats. According
to the Chinese legend, cats were chosen by the gods to rule the world.
However, they were too lazy to do the job and delegated it to people. But
they are always somewhere around and silently control us. They also can protect us from evil
if needed.
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The
Egyptians and the Persians had different attitudes towards cats. |
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People all
over the world consider a black cat a bad sign. |
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Sailors sometimes threw cats into the sea to stop the storm. |
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Sports
in Australia are very popular. In many
ways Australia seems to be the sports and outdoor activity capital
of the world. There’s a wide range of climates on the continent, so a wide
range of sports activities is available throughout the year. Surfing is
the obvious sport associated with Australia, and if you are brave
enough, you can enjoy this sport all year around. Swimming is very popular,
too. Australians and tourists enjoy swimming both in swimming pools, and, of
course, at a large number of Australia's beaches. Other popular sports
include walking, jogging, cycling and much more. It may sound surprising
but Australia also offers skiing, cross-country skiing and
snowboarding. The snow in Australia is real and ski resorts are
popular. Getting
back to surfing, it’s important to remember that anyone who wants to get into
it should follow the safety rules. Surfing is a high risk sport, and sharks
are not actually the main danger. Sharks are a common feature of Australian
waters but fatal attacks are rare. Rips put inexperienced surfers at
much greater risk. They are the cause of most tragedies at beaches. A rip, or
a rip current, is a strong current running out to sea. It forms not far from
the shore. It’s difficult to notice when a rip comes. It drags everything
from the beach to sea. Rips are very dangerous as they can carry a weak or
tired swimmer out into deep water. To avoid
or survive rip currents, surfers and swimmers should use only lifeguide
protected beaches. They should never swim or surf alone. They should never
enter the surf in places where swimming is prohibited. Sport is a great way
to escape the stress of modern day living, but it can cause trouble if people
are careless.
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The most
surfers’ deaths and injuries are caused by sharks. |
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Winter sports are popular in Australia too. |
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All the beaches in Australia have protection against sharks. |
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Light from the Past
When you stand and
look at the stars, you are really looking at past history. The light from Alkaid,
the end star in the handle of the Big Dipper, has taken about 210 years
to 1 ______
your eyes. If Alkaid stopped
2 ______
today, people on earth would still see it 3 ______ about 210 years. Some of the stars you
see here tonight may have stopped existing several thousand years ago. The
light from some 4 ______ stars right now will not be seen on earth until
thousands, or even millions, of years from now!
It’s 5 ______
breathtaking, and it 6 ______ to the great mystery about the nature of
light. Think about water waves. They get smaller and smaller in amplitude as
they travel. Their energy is lost in friction among the water molecules. Think
of sound waves in air. They too get weaker and weaker because of friction among
the air molecules.
But light waves
stop only if they strike something, and their energy is transferred 7 ______
another form. 8 ______,
they can go on and on, at the same terrific speed, with no loss of energy,
forever!
1. A) approach; Б) reach; В) hit; Г) achieve
2. A) burning; Б) flashing; В) blushing; Г) shining
3. A) after; Б) through; В) for; Г) at
4. A) farewell; Б) faraway; В) far; Г) fair
5. A) quit; Б) quick; В) quiet; Г) quite
6. A) enlarges; Б) increases; В) adds; Г) multiplies
7. A) into; Б) onto; В) for; Г) at
8. A) although; Б) otherwise; В) whatever; Г) either
'It's Only Me'
After her husband
had gone to work, Mrs Richards sent her children to school and went
upstairs to her bedroom. She was too excited to do any
1 ______ that
morning, because in the evening she would be going to a fancy dress party with
her husband. She intended to dress up as a ghost and she had 2 ______ her
costume the night before. Now she was 3 ______ to try it on. Though the
costume consisted only of a sheet, it was very
effective. Mrs Richards put it 4 ______, looked in the mirror, smiled and went
downstairs. She wanted to find out whether it would be 5 ______ to
wear.
Just
as Mrs Richards was entering the dining-room, there was a 6 ______ on
the front door. She knew that it must be the baker. She had told him to come
straight in if ever she failed to open the door and to leave the bread on the
kitchen table. Not wanting to 7 ______ the poor
man, Mrs Richards quickly hid in the small store-room under the
stairs. She heard the front door open and heavy footsteps in the hall. Suddenly
the door of the store-room was opened and a man entered. Mrs Richards
realized that it must be the man from the Electricity Board who had come to
read the meter. She tried to 8 ______ the situation, saying 'It's
only me', but it was too late. The man let out a cry and jumped back several
paces. When Mrs Richards walked towards him, he ran away, slamming
the door behind him.
1. А) homework; Б) household; В) housework; Г) housewife
2. А) did; Б) made; В) built; Г) created
3. А) nervous; Б) restless; В) ill at ease; Г) impatient
4. А) up; Б) on; В) over; Г) down
5. А) attractive; Б) exciting; В) comfortable; Г) cozy
6. А) knock; Б) kick; В) hit; Г) crash
7. А) fear; Б) worry; В) disturb; Г) frighten
8. А) describe; Б) explain; В) interpret; Г) clear
The First Day at School
Do you remember
your first day at school? It was probably 1 ____ confusing. Now, to 2 ____ this
confusion, many primary schools in England have a special teacher who welcomes
new pupils. She is 3 ____ a reception class teacher. The children
are 4 ____
with the idea of school and if they have been good, they can’t understand why
they have to go to school. They imagine that school is optional.
When the child goes to school on his first day and watches his mother leaving
he thinks that she is deserting him. The teacher must 5 ____ him
that at the end of the day his mother will be back and take him home. The
children are not the only people that are disturbed by going to school. The
teacher sometimes has as much difficulty in 6 ____ with the mothers. They hang around and
dislike leaving the child without their protection.
The best way
to 7 ____
with the situation is to get the child used to the idea of school. Before the
beginning of term, the mother should take her child to see the teacher and to
look 8 ____
the school. The first day should be something to emphasize the regularity of
school.
1. А) enough; Б) rarely; В) rather; Г) equally
2. A) escape; Б) defeat; В) beat; Г) avoid
3. A) named; Б) called; В) said; Г) told
4. A) afraid; Б) threatened; В) endangered; Г) risked
5. A) convince; Б) prove; В) explain; Г) announce
6. A) managing; Б) guiding; В) coping; Г) handling
7. A) face; Б) deal; В) touch; Г) consider
8. A) through; Б) about; В) after; Г) round
Searching for a New Programme
A healthy
lifestyle can vastly improve your well-being. This is a lifestyle designed for
those who wish to feel more certain about their health and more in control of
what the present and future will bring them in that important 1 ______
of existence. None of us wants to be sick. None of us enjoys the idea that we
may become a medical statistic. This is a simple, easy-to-follow health-style
that can enable you to get cards very much in your 2 ______.
The doctors were fortunate enough to come into 3 ______ with a
field of study that brought them to healing and well-being that they so
desperately needed. They personally have 4 ______ thousands of
people improve their health using only a small part of information. Many more
people begin to improve their health now. Embracing the most current
information from many health-related fields, the programme of healthy lifestyle
gives you an understanding of the impact of exercise, breathing, sunshine,
sleep and much more on your health. In order for this programme to work for
you, you have to be willing to apply at least some part of it. Some change will
be 5 ______. And as you make those first modest changes, you
will get positive results that encourage you to do more. Changing is fun. And
if you realize that your new healthy lifestyle 6 ______ the
making of new habits, not the 7 ______ of old ones, you will
feel very positive about what the future holds for you.
1. А) sector Б) region В) area Г) territory
2. А) benefit Б) advantage В) privilege Г) favour
3. А) touch Б) contact В) view Г) connection
4. А) confessed Б) witnessed В) determined Г)
recognized
5. А) ordered Б) commanded В) forced Г) required
6. А) contains Б) consists В) involves Г) encloses
7. А) breaking Б) damaging В) ruining Г) destroying
Alaska
The first
Europeans to visit what is now called Alaska were Russian sailors led
by Captain Bering. The 1 ______ was funded by Russian czar Peter the
Great. In 1728 Bering and his crew 2 ______ through the strait that is now named
after him, between the easternmost part of Asia and the westernmost
part of the Americas. Their journey 3 ______ that Asia was not connected to North
America; however, due to the heavy fog, they never actually saw the nearby land
of North America. In 1741 Bering headed further south, landing on
tiny Kayak Island off the 4 ______ of what is now the southeastern part of
the state.
In the 1780s and
1790s Russians began small colonies, first on Kodiak Island and later
on the mainland. In 1799 the Russian-American Company was established to 5 ______
Russian interests. For the next 68 years the company provided the only form of
government for the European colonists, 6 ______ never numbered more than a few hundred.
The Russians ruled the 7 ______ until the late 1860s, when they sold it
to the United States for $7.2 million dollars.
The 8 ______ of
gold in 1896 in the Yukon Territory started a huge gold rush that
brought thousands of settlers.
1. A) travel; Б) trip; В) journey; Г) expedition
2. A) paddled; Б) sailed; В) travelled; Г) rowed
3. A) proved; Б) convinced; В) persuaded; Г) appeared
4. A) bank; Б) beach; В) shore; Г) sea-side
5. A) look after; Б) look at; В) look for; Г) look away
6. A) which; Б) whose; В) what; Г) who
7. A) country; Б) area; В) ground; Г) earth
8. A) discovery; Б) detection; В) exploration; Г)
innovation
A hobby is an activity you enjoy doing, it is
something of your choice, something unique to your taste and talent. A hobby
can improve our well-being; it can give more meaning to our life. Just as physical
exercise is important for the body, relaxation of the mind is also essential.
In fact, studies reveal that people who cultivate themselves through such
activities are less likely to suffer from anxieties, depression and other
negative feelings. A hobby is the easiest way to restore your balance whenever
you are over-worked or stressed. Since it is an activity of your choosing, it
will always give you pleasure and help you to relax. Even if you indulge in
your hobby for a short period of time, you still can feel the difference in
your energy level and spirit. When you have a hobby, you will always find time
for it.
"There aren’t enough hours in the day," complained Sarah. She was
late to work again, and traffic was a nightmare. She had a long list of things
to get accomplished for the day, but she knew she was going to have a hard time
getting everything done.
Sitting behind Sarah was her two-year-old son, Jacob, strapped into a car
seat. Even though she had left her apartment fifteen minutes earlier than she
normally did, Sarah was late getting to both her son’s daycare and her job.
She had so many things to do! First, she had to drop her son off at
daycare. Then she needed to go to work. After work she had to see a doctor.
Then she had to do some errands later that evening.
Most important on her list of things to do was a visit to the doctor. Sarah
is pregnant. She needed to see her obstetrician after work for a routine
checkup. Pregnant women need to go to the doctor regularly as their babies
develop. She had an ultrasound planned, and she needed to ask her doctor a few
questions.
She also needed to do some shopping. She had to buy a maternity outfit
because she was getting noticeably larger. Then she wanted to stop off at the
grocery store. She wasn’t able to go to the grocery store over the weekend. She
needed to buy some basic things such as milk, eggs, bread, and some meat. Sarah
likes shopping when there are few people at the store, so she was planning on
going later in the evening.
Where does such a busy person find the time to do anything besides work and
take care of family obligations? There are only so many hours in a day!
Note: Two expressions in this reading exercise mean that there is a limited
amount of time:
- There aren’t enough hours
in the day.
- There are only so many
hours in a day.
These popular expressions mean
about the same thing: We don’t have enough time.
Comp
Directions:
Complete each sentence with the correct verb.
Example: He’s much
stronger than I ______. (the answer is “am”)
1. Donna knows more
about science than I __________.
2. You finished your work faster than he
__________.
3. She can play the piano
better than you __________.
4. I’ve had more
experience than she __________.
5. This costs more
than the other one __________.
6. We liked the pizza more than they __________.
7. We ate more pizza
than they __________.
8. Michael hasn’t been
as cooperative as David __________.
9. I’m much faster at
this than you __________.
10. This doesn’t work
as well as that one __________.
11. You know more
people at this party than I __________.
12. She doesn’t work
as many hours as he __________.
13. He’s not as fast
as she ________
14. This is worse
than that one __________.
15. He’s seen many
more movies than you __________.
16. His car wasn’t
as expensive as hers __________.
17. This won’t take
as long as the other one __________.
18. I can hold my
breath longer than you __________.
19. These flowers
lasted longer than those other ones __________.
20. Teresa doesn’t
do it as well as you __________.
B
Example: He’s much
stronger than ______. (the answer is “me”)
1. Donna knows more
about science than __________.
2. You finished
your work faster than __________.
3. She can play the
piano better than __________.
4. I’ve had more
experience than __________.
5. This costs more
than the other __________.
6. We liked the
pizza more than __________.
7. We ate more
pizza than __________.
8. Michael hasn’t
been as cooperative as __________.
9. I’m much faster
at this than __________.
10. This doesn’t
work as well as that __________.
11. You know more
people at this party than __________.
12. She doesn’t
work as many hours as __________.
13. He’s not as
fast as __________.
14. This is worse
than that __________.
15. He’s seen many
more movies than __________.
16. His car wasn’t
as expensive as _________.
17. This won’t take
as long as the other __________.
18. I can hold my
breath longer than __________.
19. These flowers
lasted longer than those other __________.
20. Teresa doesn’t
do it as well as __________.
Be able
A
1. She _______
________ _______ ________ her doctor yesterday. (see)
2. My friends
_________ _________ _________ _________ me at the coffee shop. (meet)
3. Bob ________
________ _________ _________ the door to his apartment. (open — negative)
4. The mountain climbers
________ ________ ________ ________ the top of the mountain. (reach)
5. We _________ _________
_________ _________ our car out of a snow-covered ditch. (get — negative)
6. The volunteers ________
________ _______ ________ food to the people who needed it. (bring))
7. I’m sorry I _______ ________
_______ ________ you. (help — negative)
8. The doctors _________ ________ _________ __________
the man who had a heart attack. He died. (save — negative)
9. You ________
________ ________ _________ your dinner. (finish — negative)
10. The rabbit
________ finally ________ ________ _________ from the trap. (escape)
1.
_________ you ________ ________ ________ after the operation? (eat)
2. _________
he________ ________ ________ his car? (start)
3. _________ they
_________ _________ _________ the game? (see)
4. _________ you
_________ _________ _________ to your teacher? (talk)
5. A: Why _________
they ________ ________ ________ Canada? (enter — negative)
B: They
didn’t have passports.
6 . _________ she
________ ________ ________ a gas station? (find)
7. How ________ you
________ _________ _________ under water for such a long time? (stay)
8. _________ the
employees ________ _________ ________ any days off? (take — negative)
9. How many students
________ ________ _________ _________ the test? (complete)
10. Why __________
she _________ _________ __________ her car in that parking space? (park —
negative)
Keep
1. They ___________ all of their money in the bank.
(present tense)
2. Where __________ you __________ your money? (present tense)
3. Joe __________ talking when the teacher told him to stop, so he got
in trouble. (past tense)
4. Why __________ Elena ____________ her bread in the refrigerator?
(present tense)
5. The noise next door _________ ___________ me awake.
(present continuous tense)
6. Drinking all that coffee __________ probably ___________ him awake.
(future tense)
7. We __________
_____________ food in our tents when we go camping because of the bears.
(present tense — negative)
8. How long
__________ you ____________ your tax reports? (present tense)
9. _____________ warm in the winter is easier if you wear a sweater.
(gerund)
10. An extra set of keys to her house ________ ___________ inside that
drawer. (present tense,
passive voice)
11. She
___________ ____________ any of the letters that he sent to her. (past tense
— negative)
12. How long ____________ he _______________ his motorcycle in his
garage? (present perfect tense)
13. Why
____________ they ____________ in contact with each other? (present perfect
tense — negative)
14. He says he ________ ________ _________ ___________ calling them
until they answer the phone. (“going to” future tense)
15. I __________
__________ ________ ___________ my snake in my dorm room. (be able to — past)
16. Mark _____________ a gun under his mattress. (present tense)
17. The company needs ________ ___________ track of its spending.
(infinitive)
18. Her diamond necklaces __________ ___________ under lock and key.
(present tense, passive voice)
19. The milk
__________ ___________ cold enough, so they threw it out. (past tense, passive
voice — negative)
20. Don’t move! ____________ your hands where I can see them! (imperative form)
Tell
1. What __________ he __________ you? (past tense)
2. How __________ you ____________ the difference
between the twin girls? (present tense)
3. She __________ _____________ everyone about her new
job. (present continuous tense)
4. _____________ the time in English is an important
thing to learn. (gerund)
5. I’m sorry ________ ___________ you this, but I have
to quit my job. (infinitive)
6. What __________ your body ___________ you about your
smoking? (present continuous tense)
7. __________ I ___________ you a secret? (can)
8. Henry ___________ ____________ his coworkers a lot
of lies about his past. (present perfect tense)
9. Your supervisor __________ ___________ you what to
do. (future tense)
10. Veronica ___________ ___________ ____________
everyone that she’s engaged. (present perfect continuous tense)
11. The employees ___________ ____________ to go home
early today. (past tense, passive voice)
12. Before he was fired, Nelson __________ __________
__________ several times not to show up late for work. (past perfect tense,
passive voice)
13. Everyone __________ ____________ that he likes
her. (can)
14. The students ___________ __________ ___________ to
enter the room quietly. (present continuous tense, passive voice)
15. Luke __________ ____________ his wife about the
fight he got into at work. (past tense — negative)
16. This watch __________ __________ time very well.
(present tense — negative)
17. __________ you ___________ your brother what
happened to his guitar? (present perfect tense)
18. Your teacher ___________ me that you did very well
on your last test. (past
tense)
19. Please, ___________ us the truth. (imperative
form)
Know
1. He ___________ a lot of people in his class.
(present tense)
2. She
__________ ___________ about today’s test. (past tense — negative)
3. How long __________ you ___________ about this problem? (present
perfect tense)
4. When __________ I ___________ the results of the blood test? (future
tense)
5. They
__________ ____________ their neighbors very well. (present tense — negative)
6. Farhiyo _____________ the teacher was going to call on her, so she
was ready with an answer. (past tense)
7. All the facts
related to the accident ___________ ___________ yet. (present tense, passive
voice — negative)
8. How much
__________ he ____________ about fixing a leaky faucet? (present tense)
9. She wants _________________ how much the furniture is going to cost.
(infinitive)
10. _________________ how to play the piano gives Mindy a tremendous
amount of self-confidence. (gerund)
11. I’m not very familiar with Iceland. What __________ it ____________
for? (present tense, passive voice)
12. If I __________ ___________ how long it would take to get there by
car, I would have flown instead. (past perfect tense)
13. __________
you ____________ that the meeting was cancelled? (past tense — negative)
14. The salesperson over there __________ __________ which cell phone is
better. (might)
15. My wife and
I ___________ ____________ if we’re going to have a boy or a girl after we
visit the doctor today. (should)
16. Brian __________ __________ __________ the answers to the questions
on the test, but he didn’t. (should — past)
17. When _________ we ___________ __________ ____________ the verdict in
the trial? (“going to” future tense)
18. Mr. Torkelson ___________ ___________ ___________ to have a bad temper.
(present perfect tense, passive voice)
19. You
_________ __________ _________ ___________ English to work in a restaurant.
(have to, present tense — negative)
20. Our
neighbor, Jim, ____________ _____________ how to keep the rabbits out of his
garden. (present tense
— negative)
https://www.bbc.com/news/av/uk-england-lincolnshire-45603820
hedgehogs
Do
you like to fly? These days air travel is a very common means of
transportation. It’s fast and it’s usually reliable, but
not everyone likes to fly on an airplane. Why is that?
Let’s first consider that there are many good reasons
for flying. It’s fast and sometimes it costs less than traveling by car, or
it’s the only real option for getting from point A to point B.
However, changes to the airline industry over the last
decade or so have made air travel a less desirable form of transportation. In
addition to that, many more people can afford the price of a ticket for themselves
and their families, so an increase in ridership has also increased the problems
that are currently being reported
One of the biggest things to dislike
about flying is airline security. Although good security is necessary
these days, it has resulted in long lines at airports. Travelers with flights
to catch often have to arrive at the airport one to two hours early in order to
pass through the check-in areas. In the United States, TSA (Transportation
Security Administration) carefully checks luggage and screens passengers before
they are allowed to go to their gates for departure, but this takes a lot of
time, and sometimes people miss their flights because of lengthy screening
procedures.
After you have arrived at the gate, there is a waiting
period to board the airplane. Prior to boarding, some unlucky passengers might
learn that they have been bumped off the flight. A passenger is bumped
because planes are often booked to capacity, or they are overbooked. That means
there are not enough seats on the plane for everyone. Bumped passengers might
receive free air travel or a reduced rate for travel on another fight to
compensate for their loss, but it’s still an inconvenient situation.
Weather delays also cause problems. If
the weather is bad at either the point of departure or arrival, a delay can
mean an additional waiting period of hours, but in some situations that involve
severe weather, it means that a flight must be rescheduled for the next day or
the day after that.
Once on the plane, passengers who don’t have the
luxury of flying first class find themselves uncomfortably wedged into small
seating areas. Fellow passengers are sometimes rude, or their personal hygiene
makes for an unpleasant seating arrangement. Spending four hours sitting next
to someone who really needs to take a bath can be unbearable. Then there are
those people who never stop talking, or they invade the personal space of the
people sitting next to them. Others are just plain mean or obnoxious.
Compared to the problems faced by a
majority of people around the world, the discomfort or hassle of traveling by
plane could seem trivial. This is what we call a "first-world
problem." Furthermore, according to the statistics, it’s much safer to
travel by plane than it is to travel by car or by train. However, the
complaints typically heard these days about the airlines are causing some
travelers to reconsider their method of transportation, perhaps choosing to
drive if possible.
So, what do you think? Despite all these problems and
hassles, do you like to fly?
(Personally, I always wonder how something so heavy
and loaded with so many people manages to even get off the ground. )
A "preference" is something that you like more than
another thing.
1. What kinds of food do you like? What kinds of food
do you dislike? Is there any kind of food that you really hate to eat?
2. What are your favorite forms of entertainment?
(movies, TV, radio, music, reading) Describe your favorite programs, music, movies,
etc.
3. What kinds of clothes do you prefer to wear? Describe the things you wear at home or what you wear when you want to feel comfortable–not work clothes.
4. What is your favorite color? Is there a reason it’s your favorite? Also, do you have a lucky number? What is it?
5. What is your favorite season? Why do you like it
more than the other seasons?
6. What are the things that you like to do the most? Describe these activities.
Family
1. How many people are there in your
family? Who are they? Where do they live?
2. Who supports your family? Who is the main
breadwinner? What kind of work does that person (or people) do?
3. What are some traditions that your family follows?
Are there any special holidays that everyone gets together for and celebrates?
4. How does your family make ends meet? (make ends meet: produce income, save money, and spend money
on essential things)
5. Who’s responsible for raising children in your
culture? What does the father do? What does the mother do?
6. How are families in your country different from families in the United States? Consider numbers of children, who lives in the home, who’s the head of the household, roles and responsibilities within the family, etc
Health Care
1. What are some things that you do to
take care of yourself? Consider diet and exercise.
2. Have you ever had to go to the
hospital? Why did you go there? (If the reason is too personal, it’s not
necessary to explain why you went to the hospital).
3. What makes a
good doctor or nurse? Describe the qualities of a good health care worker.
4. In the country that you come
from, do people rely on traditional or modern medicine, or is it a combination
of both? How is medical treatment in your home country different from medical
treatment in the United States?
5. Would you
ever like to work in a hospital or a clinic? What are some of the advantages or
disadvantages of working in a place where people go to get medical care?
6. What are some things that
people can do if they can’t afford to pay for professional medical care?
Eating
1. What do you
usually eat for breakfast? Do you make it for yourself, or does someone make it
for you?
2. What do you usually eat for
lunch or dinner? At what time do you usually eat lunch or dinner?
3. What was your
favorite thing to eat when you were a child? What did you hate to eat when you
were a child?
4. What do you avoid eating
now because it’s bad for you? What kind of food do you dislike?
5. What are some customs that
people follow in your country while they eat? For example, are there any
special dining arrangements that are based on age, gender, or position within
the family?
6. In the country that you come
from, what do people do after they eat? What do women do? What do men do? What
do children do? (For example: clean up, watch TV, talk, smoke, go for a walk,
etc.)
7. What is the most unusual thing
that people eat in the country that you come from?
Creativity
1. What does it mean
to be creative or inventive? Describe an example of creativity.
2. What is the most
creative thing you have done all week?
3. Why is creativity an
important quality for people who go into business?
4. Name some professions
that rely on creative people:
5. Who is the most creative
person that you know? Describe him or her.
6. If you had the time,
what are some creative activities that you would like to participate in?
Grammar
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Star pilot My four-year-old
brother Kevin wanted to become a pilot. But one dark night he watched a plane
________MOVE__________ across a clear sky. |
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Does the
plan work? Brad was a student in my after-school tutoring session. He was working
________LITTLE__________ than diligently. “Brad,” I said, “I talked to your mom, and she wants you to stay for the
full hour, so you may as well get something done.” “She wants you to keep me
every day for an hour?” he complained. “She wants you to learn it’s ________EASY__________
to work during regular class hours than to give up after-school time.” Brad
seemed to agree. “So,” I continued, “why not get your work done now so you can bring your
marks up and get your mom off your back?” “No!” he replied in horror. “If I
__________GET________ good marks now, she'll think this plan is
working, and she'll keep me in here until June!” |
Russian
rivers
Do you know Russian rivers? Do you know
what the ________LONG__________ river in Russia is? It is the Volga
River.
This river is a great source of hydroelectric power. The water from the river
________USE__________ for irrigation.
Canals link the Volga River to the Baltic and White Seas. The Volga ________FREEZE__________
for most of its length for three months each year.
New
Zealand: geography
New Zealand consists of two main islands
and a number of smaller islands so scattered that they range from the tropical
to the Antarctic. New Zealand ________LOCATE__________ about 2,012 km
southeast of Australia.
The two main islands are the North Island and the South Island, ________SEPARATE__________
by Cook Strait. The North Island is 829 km long and volcanic in its
south-central part.
South Island has the Southern Alps along its west coast, with Mount Cook being
the ________HIGH__________ point. Other inhabited islands include
Stewart Island, the Chatham Islands, and Great Barrier Island.
Global
warming
In northern Québec and Labrador,
temperatures ________RISE__________ two degrees Celsius since the
mid-1990s. That rise has helped more trees grow in the area which was
previously too cold for trees.
And the more trees that grow, the ________WARM__________ the region
becomes.
“The cold landscape that we are accustomed to in northern Canada
_________BE_________ a thing of the past soon,” specialists predict.
Kite
fighting
Have you ever heard of kite
fighting? Kite fighting is a highly competitive sport traditionally ________PLAY__________
in India, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Thailand, and South America.
Each player hopes to get his or her kite to fly _________HIGH_________.
The players try to cut their opponents’ kite strings with sharp objects
imbedded in their kites.
________START__________ in the late 1990s, kite fighting gained
popularity in the USA and is now practiced throughout the country, with an
annual championship competition held in Washington state.
In
thick fog
It was a foggy night. In a very thick fog,
a ship ________SAIL__________ very slowly. Suddenly lights appeared
forward on a collision course. The Captain shouted through the mouthpiece: “Get
out of my way! I am the carrier ‘Manchester’! My displacement is 30,000 tons!”
A voice _______COME___________ through the fog in reply:
“You _________WELL_________ turn away yourself. I’m the light
house!”
The
purpose of education
A famous professor greeted the first year
undergraduates at the beginning of the academic year. He _________TELL_________
them in his opening remarks:
“Nothing you learn here at the university will be of slightest use to you
_________LATE_________, but one thing.
If you work hard, if you train your brain, you should be able to understand
when a man ________TALK__________ nonsense. And that, in my view, is the
main, if not the sole, purpose of education.”
Exotic
pets
There is no exact definition for
“exotic” pets. This term usually refers to any animal that ________NOT BE__________
domesticated yet.
Many people keep bears as pets. For example, Ivan the Terrible kept two bears
in his palace. They _________GIVE_________ to him by the boyars.
Perhaps the ________EARLY__________ ruler in history with a soft spot
for bears was Ptolemy II, king of Egypt. He was fond of a “white bear” kept in
his private collection.
https://www.bbc.com/news/av/uk-england-nottinghamshire-56846739
F fighters in the UK (
Get – to form
the passive voice ( listening)
1. Bob ________
________ from his job.
2. The new
stadium ______ ________ ________ at the old location.
3. The goats
_______ _________ fed.
4. Maria _______
________ _________ enough.
5. John and
Vanessa ______ _________ last year.
6. We _______
________ _______ by the car dealer.
7. Their work
________ ________ __________ in time.
8. Your skin
_______ ________ __________ by the sun.
9. The meat
_______ a little __________.
10. The employees ________ ________ ________ ________.
https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-us-canada-56936198 hailstones in Texas
https://www.bbc.com/news/av/science-environment-13612991 hedgehogs new
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comparative adverbs
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1. He slept
__________ _________ last night _________ the previous night. 2. Martha
works __________ ___________ the other waitresses. 3. My car runs
_________ ___________ now __________ it did before I took it to a mechanic. 4. You need to drive _________ _________ when there are children present. 5. The teacher needs to speak _________ __________ if he wants to be
heard. 6. The machine operates _________ __________ in cold weather. 7. Flights depart ___________ ____________ in the evening compared to the
morning. 8. Jose played soccer ________ today _______ he did last week. 9. Helena did her job _________ ___________ after
she made a few mistakes. 10. Smart phones can direct travelers to their
destination _________ __________ __________ they did a few years ago. https://www.bbc.com/news/av/uk-wales-55071979 schooling 8 1 Заполните пропуски нужной грамматической формой из списка My mother goes to the theatre whenever she can. When a
new play is on, she usually reads the review on the Internet to find out
(1)__________ about the play. Last week a new comedy was staged at the city
theatre. The reviews on the Internet (2)_________ it was very good. My father
(3)________ comedies. So, my mom and I (4)______ the theatre without him.
Unfortunately, we were a little late. We missed the beginning, but the rest of
the play (5)_________ very funny. The actors were very good. The reviews on the
Internet were right. We enjoyed every minute of the performance. A 1) much 2) more 3) many 4) most B 1) says 2)
said 3) were saying 4) has said C 1) don't
like 2) likes 3) doesn't like 4) liked D 1) have
gone 2) are going 3) will go 4) went
E 1) was 2)
is 3) will be 4) were 2 Прочитайте текст, вставьте в пропуски слова из списка,
2 слова лишние Му younger sisters, Jenny and June, are (A)____
twins. Although they are very similar to each other in many ways, they are
(B)____ in other ways. They agree on many things: for example, they are both
fond of animals. When they first went to school, Mum and Dad insisted
on them being put to different classes. Jenny is now good at gymnastics and art
but June is (C)____ at anything (D)____ . June knows a lot about history and geography but is
not interested in sport. Her teachers say Jenny is probably going to succeed at
something(E)____ like painting — and June will probably end up doing some kind
of research work.
1. hopeless; 2. identical; 3. practical; 4. artistic; 5. different; 6.
feels; 7. works. 3 Чтение текста вслух You are going to read the text aloud. You have 1.5
minutes to read the text silently, and then be ready to read it aloud. Remember
that you will not have more than 2 minutes for reading aloud.
Do you know why it is hot in the summer and cold in
the winter? Most people believe that it is because the Earth is closer to the
Sun in the summer and farther from it in the winter. But it is not like this at
all! In fact, the distance between the Earth and the Sun is largest in July and
smallest in January! Scientists suggest that the reason for different summer
and winter temperatures is the angle of the Sun’s rays. In the summer, the rays
reach the Earth almost at a right angle. Due to this, the rays are not spread
out and a smaller area of the planet's surface gets the energy. In the winter,
the angle changes and the Sun’s rays are spread out over a larger area. Besides
this, the long nights and short days do not give enough time for the land to
warm up.
|
https://www.bbc.com/news/av/uk-56205189 Q
vaccination didn’t hurt at allПрочитайте текст и заполните пропуски A–F частями
предложений, обозначенными цифрами 1–7. Одна из частей в списке 1–7 лишняя.
Занесите цифры, обозначающие соответствующие части предложений, в таблицу.
Aurora The
cruiser Aurora is a museum in St. Petersburg. It is a former Russian naval ship
that has played an important part in the country’s history. The Aurora was
built between 1897 and 1900 at the Admiralty shipyard in St. Petersburg. The
cruiser was one of the largest ships of its time. After its construction was
complete, the Aurora took its place as part of the Russian 2nd Squadron in the
Pacific Ocean. In May 1905, it took part in the Battle of Tsushima and was one
of just a few Russian ships A_______________________. After the battle in the
Baltic, it returned to St. Petersburg B_______________________. The ship served
during World War I. When it returned to St. Petersburg in 1916 for major
repairs, the city was on the edge of revolution C_______________________ the
1917 February Revolution. Soon the Aurora was to play a huge part in the
October revolution. The ship is famous for firing the shot
D_______________________ the Winter Palace. Once again in 1922, the Aurora
served as a training ship. During World War II, the ship’s guns were removed to
use for land defense. Unfortunately, being left defenseless it was sunk in
Leningrad harbour to keep it from E_______________________. The ship was
brought back to the surface in 1944 and later, after extensive repairs, it was
permanently anchored at the harbour and became a museum in 1957. The Aurora is
now maintained by cadets from the nearby Nakhimov Navy School. Admission is
free to the public, F_______________________ a small fee.
1. though a
visit to the engine room carries
2. and became a
cadet training ship
3. that
survived the intense naval battle
4. falling into
the hands of the Germans
5. that
signaled the prepared attack on
6. and many crew members joined
7. protecting the territory of the harbour
Russian souvenirs.
Russia is famous for its diversity, as well as its hospitality. The
best way to show Russia to someone is to bring home something special.
Matryoshka and balalaika are quite stereotypical presents. There are many other
goods A_______________________. Woolen shawls have always been popular in
Russia because of cold winters. The shawls made in Pavlovsky Posad,
B_______________________, are considered to be a traditional Russian gift.
Woolen shawls and scarves have been made there since 1795. A wide shawl with a
beautiful original pattern on it may be used like a blanket. It is nice to
cover oneself up with it sitting in the armchair, watching a movie, C_______________________.
The Pavlovsky Posad manufacture produces scarves for men as well. They can be
bought through the Internet, or in brand stores, D_______________________.
Belyovskaya pastila is a souvenir E_______________________. It has been made since
the 19th century in the town of Belyov near Tula. This is a very special kind
of Russian confection. Though it is called “pastila”, it is not a marshmallow
style delicacy. Belyovskaya pastila is made of dried apples. After they have
been dried, they are mixed with egg whites and sugar and whipped. Belyovskaya
pastila is similar to a cake, F_______________________ of apples. It is
considered to be a natural product, and it is not of average price. Tourists
can buy this kind of sweet at some confectioner’s shops throughout Moscow.
1. that one may
buy in Moscow as a souvenir
2. which are
situated in the centre of Moscow
3. that pleases
the people with a sweet tooth
4. although it has a slightly sour taste
5. which is a
town not very far from Moscow
6. riding a bike around the villages in Russia
7. reading a book, or drinking coffee or tea
