Activity File

25, Plaza de Toros

Granada
Spain
10th September, 2006
Dear Hasan,
Hello! My name is Isabel Garcia and I am your new pen-friend. I am fourteen years old and I am
Spanish. I live in Granada in Spain.
These are photographs of the people in my family. My fathers name is Philip. Hes a chemist. My
mothers name is Marcia. My brothers name is Fredrico and my sisters name is Rosa. I am the girl
with short brown hair. My dogs name is Pluto. Hes in the photograph with me.
I like tennis but I dont like basketball. My favourite subject is Geography, but I dont like
Chemistry because its difficult. I love pop music but I dont like opera. I like dogs but I dont like cats.
My favourite singer is Elton John and my favourite actress is Melanie Griffits. They are fantastic!
What about you? What do you like? Who is your favourite singer? Please write soon and tell me
about yourself.
Best wishes,
Isabel
I. A) Read the letter above and write the name of the people in the photographs.
B) Answer these questions about the letter:

How does the letter start?

How does the letter finish?

Which of these phrases can you use to start a letter to a friend?

a) Dear John, b) Dear Mr. Smith, c) Dear Sirs,

Which of these phrases can you use to finish a letter to a friend?

a) Best wishes, b) Your sincerely, c) Love and kisses, d) Love,

C) Underline the correct words in the following sentences:

1. Isabel is from Spain/Mexico.
2. Her fathers name is Philip/Fredrico.
3. Her sisters name is Marcia/Rosa.
4. Her favourite subject is Chemistry/Geography.
5. Isabel doesnt like cats/dogs.
II. Read the letter again and complete the table below. Then look at your notes and talk about
Isabel Garcia.
Name: ..................................................
Age:
Nationality: .
Address: ...
Family: father - ..
mother - ..
brother - .
sister - .
Pets:
Likes: .............................................
Dislikes: ..

III. Study the examples below, then fill in the gaps with but, because or and.
I like dogs but I dont like cats.
I dont like Chemistry because its difficult.
I am fourteen years old and I am Spanish.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

I like dogs horses.

My favourite subject is Geography ..its easy.
Lucy lives in Spain she isnt Spanish.
I like skateboarning . swimming.
I like Antonio Banderas .hes a fantastic actor.

IV. Write a letter to a new pen-friend after the following plan:

PLAN
(your address)
(number, + name of street).
(name of town/ village) ..
(name of country) ..
(full date: day+month, + year)........
Dear (your pen-friends first name).
Paragraph 1:

greetings introduce yourself

(name, age, nationality, where you live )

Paragraph 2:

family and pets

Paragraph 3:

likes and dislikes

Paragraph 4:

end your letter

(Please write soon )
Best wishes,
(your first name)

Activity File
(grade V)
1. Read the article and list the points for and against swimming, then answer the questions
that follow.

Swimming is great!
by Sheila Thompson, Toronto, Canada
Do you know the saying like a duck to water? Thats me! Swimming is definitely my
favourite sport. I love splashing around in the water, and I believe Im not the only one.
Swimming is a very popular sport for various reasons. To start with, swimming is good
exercise because it keeps you fit and healthy. It is good fun, too, as you can play lots of games in the
water with your friends. Another good thing about swimming is that it is cheap. All you need is water
and a swimming-costume!
On the other hand, learning to swim can be hard work because you must practice a lot. You
need to spend lots of hours in the water before you learn to swim well. Also, swimming can sometimes
be tiring. For example, professional swimmers need to push themselves to do their best. However, it is
definitely worth in the end.
All in all, although swimming can be hard work, I think it is a great way of exercising for
everyone. Its an enjoyable sport for all the family, from children to grandparents.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Which paragraph mentions the points for swimming?

Why is swimming fun?
Which paragraph mentions the points against swimming?
Why can swimming be hard work?
What is the writers opinion? In which paragraphs does she give her opinion?
2. Match the words from the text with their synonyms.

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

fit
healthy
fun
cheap
practice
definitely

3. Fill in: go, play or do

1. ..basketball
2. ..running
3. ..karate
4. . swimming
5. football
6. ..gymnastics
7. ..golf
8. windsurfing
9. aerobics
10. baseball
11. ..cycling
12. scuba-diving

a) enjoyable
b) train
c) in good shape
d) certainly
e) well
f) inexpensive
4. Look at the adjectives describing sports
in the list and decide which are positive and
which are negative. Write P for positive and
N for negative.
1. expensive N
2. easy .
3. hard
4. thrilling ..
5. popular
6. dangerous
7. exciting
8. boring..
9. tiring
10. healthy
11. relaxing

5. Put the verbs in brackets into the correct form: the ing form or the infinitive without to.
1.
2.
3.
4.

Many people hate.(play) golf because they find it boring.

You must(practice) every day to play tennis well.
Many people enjoy..(go) scuba-diving because they find it interesting.
Karate can be a dangerous sport. For example, you may.. (injure) yourself quite
badly.
5. Training to become a boxer can.(be) very tiring because you need to practice a
lot.
6. Match the adjectives which describe the points for with the reasons, then complete the
sentences below.
cheap
relaxing
thrilling
popular
1.
2.
3.
4.

you feel like you are flying over the waves

you can play almost anywhere
you dont need any special equipment
you can forget about your problems

Football is verybecause.
Golf is
Windsurfing is..
Running is

7. Match the adjectives which describe the points against with the reasons, then complete the
sentences.
expensive
you need to use a lot of energy
dangerous
the equipment costs a lot of money
tiring
it takes a long time to improve
hard
you might hurt yourself
1.
2.
3.
4.

Weightlifting is quite..as.
Basketball is sometimes
Skateboarding is often..
Skiing is rather

8. Join the sentences using and, also, too, but, although or however, as in the examples.
1. Cycling is cheap. Its relaxing. (similar ideas)
e. g. Cycling is cheap and relaxing.
Cycling is cheap. Its also relaxing.
Cycling is cheap. Its relaxing, too.
2. Skiing is great. Its hard work. (opposing ideas)
e.g. Skiing is great, but its hard work
Although skiing is great, its hard work.
Skiing is great. However, its hard work.
3. Tennis is fun. Its popular.
4. Skateboarding is tiring. It makes you feel energetic.
5. Football is a very popular sport. It can be dangerous.
6. Ice-skating is a difficult sport. Its tiring.
7. Car racing is an expensive sport. Its thrilling.
8. Scuba-diving is very interesting. It keeps you fit.
9. Fishing is cheap. Its relaxing.
10. Water polo is an exciting sport. Its fun.

PLAN

Paragraph 1: say what your favourite sport is and why you like it

Paragraph 2: write the positive points about the sport (give reasons)

Paragraph 3: write the negative points about the sport (give reasons)

Paragraph 4: give your opinion and reason

TEST PAPER
NAME:.
GRADE: VI B
I. Read the conversation and answer the questions below.
Betty: Hello, Annie. How was the trip to Silver Beach?
Annie: It was terrible. I didnt enjoy it at all.
Betty: Why? What happened?
Annie: Well, first, the bus was two hours late. We didnt leave until eleven oclock on Saturday
morning.
Betty: Really? So late?
Annie: Yes. And then we stopped for lunch on the way. But the caf was horrible. The food was
terrible. And when we arrived at Silver Beach it was six oclock in the evening. The shops were closed.
We didnt buy anything.
Betty: Did you stay the night at Silver Beach?
Annie: Yes. We stayed in a terrible hotel called the Sunny Bay Hotel. It was very uncomfortable.
Betty: Was there anything to do there? Any entertainment?
Annie: Well, there was a disco. I stayed there for half an hour, but it was boring and the music was
awful. So I decided to go to bed.
Betty: So was there anything good about the weekend?
Annie: Oh yes. It was good when we arrived home, on Sunday afternoon!
a). What is the conversation about?
1. a summer holiday
2. a weekend trip
3. a day near the sea
b) Which of these problems do they talk about?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.

The bus was uncomfortable.

The bus didnt leave on time.
Annie didnt leave on time.
Annie didnt like the lunch.
The food in the hotel was bad.
The hotel was uncomfortable.
The disco music was too loud.
They didnt sleep well.
The bus arrived home late.

II. Circle the correct tense to complete these sentences.

Ibreakfast at 8.00 every day.
a). have
b).am having
1. Every Thursday he.. football.
a). plays

b). is playing

2. I my family for two years.

a). havent seen

b). didnt see

3. She my letter yet.

a). didnt answer

b). hasnt answered

4. Today I grey trousers and a black T-shirt.

a). wear

b). am wearing

5. My sister..a new dress yesterday.

a). bought
b). has bought
III. Correct the mistakes.
1. We have bought a new sofa last month.
2. Jim lives in Germany for three years.
3. She is just moved house.
4. I am at school since 9 oclock.
5. Kate does her homework at the moment.

ACTIVITY FILE
(grade VII)
I. Fill in since or for.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.

.ten years
.I was five
.8 oclock
two hours
ages
six months
lunch-time
..we moved in this town
.three minutes

II. Fill in the gaps with recently, how long, yet, always, ever, already, since or never.
1. A: has she been an air hostess?
B:she left school.
2. A: Jonathan has moved house..
B: Whats his new address?
3. A: I cant phone you. I havent got a phone .
B: Well, Ill come to your house instead.
4. A: Has she finished her homework..?
B: Yes. Shes.finished it.
5. A: He eats a lot of vegetables, doesnt he?
Yes. Hes..liked vegetables.
6. A: Have you .been to China?
B: No, I have..been there.
III. Fill in the gaps with have/has been (to) or have/has gone (to).
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Where are Tom and Lucy? They .. the theatre.

I dont live in London. I.onlythere once.
I am alone in the house. My parents..on holiday.
Is Philip at home? No, he.work.
My friend wants us to go on holiday to Madrid this summer, but Ialready
.there.
6. Anita has just come home. She.the theatre.
7. Where are Julia and Dave? They ..the sports centre with their
friends.
IV.Put the verbs in brackets into the past simple or the present perfect simple.
1. A: I .(go) to the new gym yesterday.
B: Its good, isnt it? I.(go) there a few times.
2. A: .(you/write) to Simon lately?
B: Yes, I..(write) him a letter last week.
3. A: How long..(you/be) married?
B: Only for six months. I(get) married last December.
4. A: I..(not/see) Sam for a long time.
B: Really? I..(see) him yesterday at the swimming pool.
5. A: ..(you/ type) the report yet?
B: Yes, I(finish) it half an hour ago.
6. A: Mary.(know) Steven for six years.
B: When(they/meet)?

A: When they.(be) at university together.

A: (you/ever/play) rugby?
B: Yes, I have. I.(play) for the first time last week.
8. A: James..(write) a new book last year.
B: I know. I..(read) some great reviews about in the newspaper.
7

V. Put the verbs in brackets into the correct tense.

Dear Bert,
I 1).(write) to tell you what a great time 2)
.(have) at the Sour Grapes concert last weekend. Its a pity you 3)
(not/come).
The concert 4)..(take) place in the football stadium near the
university. There 5) (be) about 80,000 people there. While we 6)
(wait) to get in, we 7).(see) the
members of the group arrive in a big black limo. They 8)..(have)
bodyguards with them. Anyway, we 9)(find) our seats and 10)
. (wait) impatiently for the concert to begin. The Sour Grapes 11)
..(recently/record)
an
album
which
12)
(become) very successful.
The concert 13).(last) for two and a half hours. I 14)
..(send) you some photos that Alex 15)..
(take)
when
we
16)(be)
there.
We
17)
..(hear) that the Sour Grapes 18)..(give) a
big concert in London next month. Perhaps you can see them there.
Best Wishes,
Roger

VI. Read the notes about Paul Vern who is a famous runner. Make sentences using the
prompts given as in the example.
e.g. Paul Vern was born in Sussex.

be born/ in Sussex
always want/ be a runner
start running/ at the age of seven
win/ the school championship/ when/ be/ 15 years old
join/ the national team/ four years ago
win/ several medals/ so far
recently receive/ the Athlete of the Year award
get married/ last month
already take part/ in two international championships

VII. Imagine you want to write an article about Paul Vern for your school newspaper. Use
your notes from exercise VI to write a short text. You can begin like this:
Paul Vern is a famous runner who competes internationally. He was born in
Sussex