1.

Read the text and say if the following statements are true, false or not
mentioned in the text.
The X Factor
Tens of millions of television viewers around the world have become familiar with the
musical talent show The X Factor, which originated in Britain in 2004 and has since
become an international franchise. In some countries the name is different for
eam!le, Factor X in "!ain and X"eer #l $a%ah in #rabic&s!ea'ing countries but
the format is usuall( the same) as!iring !o! singers or grou!s com!ete in front of a
small grou! of %udges, and a large studio audience, for the !ri*e of a lucrative
recording contract.
The British version of the show has been enormousl( successful. Broadcast on
"aturda( evenings between #ugust and +ecember, it is watched b( an average of
around ,- million !eo!le more than a fifth of the !o!ulation. The studio audience
is etremel( enthusiastic .at times almost h(sterical/ and the four %udges, who give
their o!inions immediatel( after each !erformance, are usuall( %eered if the( ma'e
negative comments. The T0 audience votes b( tele!hone for their favourite act, and
on "unda( evening the results are announced in a follow&u! show. The two acts
who receive the fewest votes from the !ublic normall( have to !erform again in the
followu! show, and then their fate is in the hands of the %udges) the one the %udges
thin' has sung better sta(s in the com!etition, but the loser is eliminated.
#s the com!etition !rogresses, the !erformers are in the !ublic e(e for far longer
than two evenings a wee') their talents .or lac' of/, !ersonalities and off&stage
behaviour are also discussed endlessl( b( gossi! maga*ines and tabloids, their
faces fre1uentl( a!!earing on the front !ages. Feelings run so high that cam!aigns
for or against certain contestants are launched on social networ'ing sites.
In Britain, winning The X Factor guarantees that a singer or grou! will be able to
ma'e a lot of mone( from their music, at least in the short term. In most (ears, for
eam!le, the debut single b( the winner, released in +ecember, has reached the to!
of the singles charts b( 2hristmas.
"ome !eo!le, however, thin' the !rogramme has too much influence on the music&
bu(ing !ublic, which is wh( in 2003 there was a successful cam!aign to encourage
!eo!le to bu( an alternative single and thereb( ensure the song b( The X Factor4s
winner wouldn4t be number one at 2hristmas. The cam!aign is being re!eated this
(ear. #nother 'ind of !rotest against the 20,0 com!etition was when a lot of !eo!le
tried to undermine it b( voting ever( wee' for the contestant with b( far the worst
singing voice he was finall( eliminated onl( in late $ovember.
,. The contestants on the British version of The X Factor !erform in 5ondon.
2. The winner in 20,0 was the contestant with the worst singing voice.
-. There are three %udges.
4. The song b( the winner of the 2003 com!etition was number one at 2hristmas
that (ear.
6. The studio audience usuall( li'es it when the %udges ma'e negative comments.
7. The T0 audience for the !rogramme increases as the com!etition !rogresses.
8. The %udges decide which two acts have to !erform again in the follow&u!
!rogramme on "unda( evening.
9. The %udges are the same !eo!le ever( wee'.
3. "!ain has its own version of The X Factor.
,0. :ver( countr( in :uro!e has its own version of The X Factor.
2. Complete the sentences with the infinitive or gerund form of the vers
in rac!ets.
,.& ;( father dared <<<<<<<<<< .argue/ with the !olice officer.
2.& I can4t imagine <<<<<<<<<< .live/ in the cit(.
-.& =e4ve decided <<<<<<<<<< .go/ to the cinema.
4.& I sto!!ed <<<<<<<<<< .!la(/ bas'etball when I got married.
6.& I meant <<<<<<<<<< .bu(/ some mil', but I forgot.
7.& +id (ou !romise <<<<<<<<<<.ta'e/ the children to the circus>
8.& ?ave the men finished <<<<<<<<<< .re!air/ the roof (et4
9.& I ho!e <<<<<<<<< .go/ to 2hina net summer.
3.& =h( does ;ar( 'ee! <<<<<<<<< .tal'/ about her father>
,0.& =e couldn4t afford <<<<<<<<< .live/ in that house.
". Rewrite the following sentences into the first, second or third
condicional.
,. I didn@t renew m( subscri!tion because I lost interest in the maga*ine@s articles.
2. ?e was too slow to win the race.
-. I won@t go to Aio unless I find a chea! flight.
4. I never sunbathe because I get sunburt easil(.
6. "he will understand (ou !rovided that (ou don@t s!ea' too fast.
7. ?e won@t come for a drin' because he@s got wor' to do.
8. "he@s too (oung to get a driving licence.
9. The( lost the match because of the heav( rain.
3. =henever Beter and I meet, we tal' about the good old times.
,0. "hould (ou see Baul, tell him about the meeting.
#. Rewrite the following sentences in the active voice.
,. Before the semester was over, the new nursing !rogram had been a!!roved b(
the 2urriculum 2ommittee and the Board of Trustees.
2. =ith five seconds left in the game, an illegal time&out was called b( one of the
!la(ers.
-. 5ater in the da(, the em!lo(ees were informed of their loss of benefits b( the boss
herself.
4. The ma%or !oints of the lesson were 1uic'l( learned b( the class, but the( were
also 1uic'l( forgotten b( them.
6. For several (ears, 2haunce( was raised b( his elderl( grandmother.
7. #n une!ected tornado smashed several homes and u!rooted trees in a suburb
of Cnoville.
8. I was sur!rised b( the teacher@s lac' of s(m!ath(.
9. DThe Eellow =all!a!erD was written b( 2harlotte Ber'ins Filman.
3. Bartici!ants in the surve( were as'ed about their changes in !olitical affiliation.
,0. Tall buildings and mountain roads were avoided b( Aaoul because he had such
a fear of heights.
$. Read the dialogue and complete the sentences with reported speech.
+octor ) ?ello, ?ow are (ou feeling now>
Batient ) I am much better, sir.
+octor ) #re (ou not full( well> +on4t (ou ta'e !ro!er rest>
Batient ) I am not full( well as I cannot have !ro!er rest because of the
bus( schedule.
+octor ) Ta'e some tonic to regain (our health, o'>
The doctor as'ed i/ <<<<<<<<<<<< the !atient re!lied ii/ <<<<<<<<<<<<. Then the
doctor as'ed iii/ <<<<<<<<<<<< the !atient re!lied iv/ <<<<<<<<<<<< Finall(,
the doctor advised the !atient v/ <<<<<<<<<<<<.
%. Complete the sentences with present perfect or past simple.
,.& The( <<<<<<<<< .write/ their eams (esterda(.
2.& The( <<<<<<<<< .start/ building their new house ,9 months ago.
-.& I <<<<<<<< .meet/ the com!an( manager two wee's ago.
4.& I <<<<<<<< .be born/ in ,374.
6.& That was the best concert I <<<<< ever <<<<<<< .see/.
7.& I <<<<<<<<<< .not eat/ an(thing since brea'fast.
8.& I <<<<<<<<< .stud(/ :nglish for ,0 (ears.
9.& Eou <<<<<<<<<<< .change/ (our address recentl(.
3.& =hen I was ,6 I <<<<<<<<< .go/ to +ublin.
,0.& ;( students <<<<<<<<< .raise/ a lot of mone( for
charit(.
&. City vs. Country. 'dvantages and disadvantages.