8th FORM Reading

The stronger man

Many, many years ago there was a man in England who was very strong. Everyone knew
him. He often said, "If I ever meet anyone who is stronger than I am, I'm going to give him all
the money in my purse."
One day as he was riding somewhere, his horse lost a shoe.
When the man came to the nearest town, he asked for someone who could shoe his horse.
The smith in that town was very strong, too. The man told the smith to bring him some of
the best horseshoes he had.
When the smith brought him some horseshoes, the strong man looked at them, took one of
them and said, "This is a bad shoe. It's no good for my horse. Haven't you got anything better?
Look!" And he took it in his strong hands and broke it easily. The smith looked at him, but
said nothing. Then he brought another horseshoe. The man took it and broke it as easily as the
first one. The smith brought him a third one. The strong man broke it too and then said, "I see
that you haven't got any good horseshoes. Don't you see that I need something really good for
my horse? Bring me one more and I'll go." The smith brought a fourth shoe and the strong
man gave him some coins.
The smith looked at the coins, took one and said, "This is a bad coin. Haven't you got
anything better? Look!" He took the coin between his fingers and broke it into two. It was
now the strong man's turn to be surprised. He didn't say anything, but gave the smith another
coin. The smith broke it, too. The man gave him a third coin. The smith broke it like the first
two and said, "I see that you haven't got any good coins. Don't you see that I need some really
good ones? So give me one more and we'll be quits."
The strong man looked at him and said, "I've promised to give my purse to anyone I meet,
who is stronger than I am. Here it is. Take it! It's yours now."
Vocabulary
purse — гаманець
shoe (тут) — підкова, підковувати
smith — коваль
be quits — розрахуватися (з кимось)
Завдання 1.  Directions:  Statements 1 through 10 (decide if the statements are True or False):
1. Once upon a time there was a man who was very strong.
2. When he was riding somewhere he lost his shoe.
3. In the nearest town the man asked to sell him a horse.
4. The strong man took the first horseshoe and broke it easily.
5. The man couldn’t broke the second horseshoe.
6. The man liked the fourth horseshoe and bought it.
7. The strong man gave him a coin.
8. The smith took the coin and broke it into two.
9. The strong man became very angry.
10. The strong man gave to the smith his purse.
Завдання Directions:  Statements 11 through 20
CHOOSE THE CORRECT ANSWERS a,b,c,
11. There was a man in England
a) who was very strong.
b) who was very brave.
c) who was very clever.
12. As the strong man was riding somewhere one day
a) he lost his shoe.
b) his horse lost a shoe.
c) his horse lost his shoes.
13. When the man came to the nearest town
a) He asked for someone who could shoe his horse.
b) He asked for someone who could buy his horse.
c) He asked for someone who could sell him a shoe.
14. When the strong man looked at the horseshoes the smith brought him,
a) he took one of them and threw it away.
b) he took one of them and asked the smith to shoe his horse.
c) he took one of them and broke it.
15. When the strong man broke the shoe,
a) the smith got angry.
b) the smith said nothing.
c) the smith started fighting with the man
16. The strong man broke
a) all the shoes the smith brought.
b) two shoes.
c) three shoes.
17. When the man gave the smith a coin,
a) the smith broke it into two.
b) the smith asked for another one.
c) the smith threw it away.
18. The smith broke
a) as many coins as the man had broken horseshoes.
b) more coins than the man had broken horseshoes.
c) fewer coins than the man had broken horseshoes.
19. When the man saw that the smith had broken his coin,
a) he was angry.
b) he was surprised.
c) he was glad.
20. The strong man looked at the smith and
a) gave his purse to him.
b) began to cry.
c) went away.

Writing Comprehension Test.

Directions: In this Test you will select from the three tasks written on the board one which you feel you
are most capable to write about. You will then begin writing your essay.
1. What is your idea of a good family?
2. My experience in learning English
3. If you want to enjoy life, find interesting ways to entertain yourself.
 9th form Reading
Keep On Dancing

After forty-five minutes of dancing the bell rang. The dancers left the dance floor and slowly
headed for the beds in the next room. Fifteen minutes later, the bell rang again and the weary
dancers straggled back to the dance floor. All day and all night, the same dancers continued to
dance. Weeks passed and they kept on dancing. They were called dance marathons and people
were crazy about them in the 1930s. In the longest marathon, the dancing went on for 5,148
hours or nearly 215 days. It was just after the stock market crash of 1929 in the United States.
The Great Depression that followed affected everyone, and thousands of people were out of
jobs. For some young people, entering a dance marathon was simply a way to earn money for
food. As long as they continued to dance, they got food to eat.

The first 500 hours of a dance marathon were the most difficult. Dancers had to get used to
sleeping while leaning on their partners. Feet got sore and swollen, and tempers flared as
dancers got tired. Three times a day, tables were pulled out onto the dance floor and the
dancers ate — while dancing.

For many people, watching a dance marathon was a cheap form of entertainment. At any time
of day or night they could go and watch the dancers in the marathon. They yelled and threw
money at their favorite dancers to encourage them to keep dancing. Some made bets on who
would quit or fall down next.

Dancers in a marathon were pushed to their limits. Without proper sleep, many got sick. When
several dancers died from overexertion in а І929 dance marathon, government officials tried
unsuccessfully to outlaw marathons. Instead, marathons continued to be popular until the
United States entered World War II. The wartime economy brought the country out of the
Depression and people finally began to lose interest in dance marathons.
Завдання 1. Directions: Statements 1 through 10 (decide if the statements are True or False):
1. Nowadays, people are crazy about dance marathons.
2. In the longest marathon, the dancing went on for nearly seven months.
3. Dance marathons appeared during the Great Depression.
4. Entering a dance marathon was a way to become rich.
5. Professional dancers only had a right to participate in a marathon.
6. Watching a dance marathon was an expensive form of entertainment,
7. Bets were made on who would quit or fall down next.
8. Several dancers died from indigestion in 1929.
9. Government officials outlawed marathons when “the USA entered World War
10. People finally began to lose .interest in dance marathons in the 1990s.

Завдання 2.
Directions: Questions 11 through 20 (choose the correct letter a, b, c):
11. How long did hourly breaks last?
a) Five minutes;
b) ten minutes;
c) fifteen minutes.
12. When did people become crazy about dance marathons?
a) In the 1920s;
b) in the 1930s;
c) in the 1940s.
13. When did the US stock market crash?
a) In 1929;
b) in 1930;
c) in 2001.
14. How long did the longest dance marathon last?
a) 115 days;
b) 215 days;
c) 250 days.
15. What did the dancers get as long as they participate in the contest?
a) Bed and breakfast;
b) free meals;
c) pocket money.
16. When could people watch the dancers in the marathon?
a) At any time of day or night;
b) in the evening;
c) at night.
17. What did spectators throw at their favorite dancers?
a) Some food;
b) some towels;
c) some money.
18. Why did several dancers die?
a) They got poisoned;
b) they got exhausted;
c) they got bribed.
19. Did the government ban dance marathons?
a) Yes, it did;
b) no, it did not;
c) it failed.
20. Why did people finally begin to lose interest in dance marathons?
a) The USA entered World War II;
b) people became fed up with them;
c) the marathons were outlawed.

Writing Comprehension Test. Directions:

In this Test you will select from the three tasks one which you feel you are most capable to write about.
1. Do you agree with the quote: «When words fail, music speaks”. What does music mean to
you?
2. Around the world computers and the Internet have become an indispensible part of
modern life. Have computers and the Internet truly improved the quality of people’s life?
What are the disadvantages of using them too often?

3. The greatest gift in life is friendship.

 10th form Reading

Buenos Aires
I may live in a South American city, but it has as much in common with European cities as
it does with other cities on this continent. Most people live in apartment blocks with open
balconies - much like Madrid, Paris or Rome - and the city's 9th de Julio street is the world's
widest avenue.
For this country, the city is huge - about a third of the country's population lives in its
metropolitan area. It is a lively place to live, especially at nighttime. Most people go out to eat
around 11pm, and then hit the bars around lam. And nightclubs don't even open until 3am!
There is a big dance scene here, and tango is currently making a comeback as young people
pick up this traditional form of dance that was born here.
Football is another big passion. Maradona, possibly the best player ever, was born in Boca,
one of the poorer districts on the southern outskirts of the city. Maradona used to play for the
football club Boca Juniors and he is almost treated like a god here. Another area of the city is
home to River Plate, another successful football club that is known as "the millionaire's club,"
since the players earn so much money.
Two years ago, the city was in turmoil. The country's debt was out of control after the
government had borrowed more and more from lenders overseas, and the economy had been
poorly managed for years. As a desperate measure, the currency was devalued by two-thirds
of its value. People reacted angrily as their savings and properties were suddenly worth so
little. Over that Christmas/New Year period, the streets were filled with ordinary people
protesting. When some of the protests turned into riots, the authorities hit back with tear gas
and showers of rubber bullets. It was chaos* and for the first time, serious crimes -including
murder - became commonplace.
Thankfully, the tension of those times has died down, and it feels like a peaceful, safe city
again. With the devalued peso, most people can no longer afford to travel or buy things from
abroad but they are getting on with their lives. With our new President, there is a feeling of
optimism for the future. Nevertheless, you can still see bullet holes in buildings, and many of
our monuments are daubed with graffiti written by angry protesters.
Завдання 1. Directions: Statements 1 through 10 (decide if the statements are True or False):
1. Buenos Aires is more similar to Madrid than to other South American cities.
2. Inhabitants of Buenos Aires are more likely to live in a flat than in a house.
3. Maradona is a poor section of Buenos Aires, where people are passionate about football.
4. Roughly 30% of Argentinians live in and around Buenos Aires.
5. Residents of Buenos Aires are not night owls.
6. Economic problems were solved after the government borrowed money from other countries.
7. According to the article, people fill the streets of Buenos Aires every Christmas and New Year.
8. Buenos Aires is usually a very violent city.
9. People in Buenos Aires used to travel by pesos.
10. The author is a resident of Buenos Aires.
Questions 11 through 20 (On your answer sheet, circle the correct letter: A, B, C» or D.)
11. Residents of Buenos Aires typically go out after dinner:
A. in a pub at one o'clock in the morning. B. in a bar at one o'clock in the afternoon.
C. in a cafe at 11 o'clock in the morning. D. in a bar at 11 o'clock at night.
 12. The "millionaire's club" is:
A. the nickname of a big home in Buenos Aires. B. the place where football fans meet.
C. a club near the river. D. the nickname of a winning football team.
13. The author mentions all the following acts as results of difficult economic times EXCEPT:
A. Money was only worth one-third of its value.
B. Authorities were angry during the Christmas holidays.
C. Criminals committed violent crimes.
D. The police shot at protesters.
14. One of the signs of hope mentioned by the author is that:
A. the peso has regained its value. B. people are buying more imported products.
C. there are bullet holes in local buildings. D.the crime rate has returned to its normal state.
15. We can understand that the author of the passage:
A. is proud of the many positive aspects of Buenos Aires.
B. approved of the violence during the protests.
C. approved of the former government's economic policies.
D. disapproves of the nightlife in Buenos Aires.
16. The word "turmoil" is a synonym of:
A. passion. B. chaos.
C. comeback. D. metropolitan.
17. The outskirts can be found in
A. a clothing shop. B. the city centerpiece.
C. the southern part of the country. D. the suburbs.
18. To compare Buenos Aires with European cities, the author mentions:
A. wide avenues. B. balconies.
C. football players. D. nightclubs.
19. Two years ago, the people of Buenos Aires were angry because:
A. their homes and savings accounts lost their value.
B. the people were protesting in the streets.
C. the police were shooting at protestors.
D. lenders borrowed more money from the bank.
20. The tango is:
A. a type of nightclub. B. the modern dance craze.
C. a popular Argentine snack. D. a dance native to Buenos Aires.

Writing Comprehension Test. Directions: In this Test you will select from the three tasks one which you
feel you are most capable to write about. You will then begin writing your essay on the pages provided.

1. The best way to improve health is to exercise every day. Do you agree with this statement? What do
you think are the keys to a healthy lifestyle and a long life?

2. There have been many important inventions throughout the course of human history. Which invention
do you think is the most important?

3. The world is becoming more and more polluted. What do you consider to be the most important
environmental issue? What can we do to improve this environmental problem?
 11th form 2 Reading
Mozart of Chess: Magnus Carlsen

(CBS Television 60 Minutes; February 19, 2012) Demolition, not defeat, is the goal of 21-year-old
Magnus Carlsen. No, he's not a boxer, not a wrestler. Rather, Magnus is the top chess player in the world, and
he takes it on like an athlete. First, there's the tough physical workouts to prepare himself for the tough mental
workout of competition. And then there's the attitude. Magnus, who comes from a nice Norwegian family,
tells journalist Bob Simon: "I enjoy it when I see my opponent really suffering, when he knows that
I've outsmarted him." But really, he's a nice guy-an athlete and fashion model in addition to being the top-
ranked chess player in the world. In this piece, journalist Bob Simon profiles Magnus Carlsen.
Magnus Carlsen is the best in the world. He is a 21-year-old Norwegian, who reigns supreme in a sport played
by 500 million people. It is chess. Many don't think of it as a sport because nobody moves, but chess masters
will tell you it can be more brutal than boxing. That's because at the championship level, the objective is not
only to win, but to demolish your opponent. That can take hours; the best players need extraordinary
endurance so most of them are young.
Magnus is the youngest number one ever. And no one can explain to you how he does what he does. It
seems to come from another world, which is why he has become known as the Mozart of chess.
Just look at what he is doing: competing against ten players simultaneously. That, in itself, is not
extraordinary. But Magnus cannot see the boards. He is facing the other way. So he has to keep track of the
positions of 320 pieces blind. And the number of possible moves? Infinite. Magnus comes out on top.
Chess players are pretty pokerfaced. But occasionally Magnus will flash the smile of someone who knows it's
all-over-but-the-handshake, while his opponent dives deeper into doom.
The spectators seem as mesmerized as the competitors. They're all chess players, of course. If they
weren't, it would be like watching paint dry. Worldwide, a hundred thousand are watching on their computers.
The suspense keeps building until the end of the game - by which time it's cutthroat.
Chess is now routinely taught in schools all over the world, including the United States. In some countries, it
is compulsory.
Chess can be taught, but not genius. Magnus-seemed like a normal enough kid growing up outside Oslo -
but wait a minute, when he was five, he could name almost all the countries in the world and their capitals and
their population -Magnus' father, Henrik, didn't think that was terribly unusual.
Magnus is on the road two hundred days a year now. Between matches he is alone in his hotel room getting
ready for tomorrow's game. He works out almost every day.
It's what he does for fun, too - at the Oslo chess club where he started. He is playing a Norwegian grandmaster
here. It's called Bullet chess and Magnus has a handicap. His opponent is gives three minutes to make his
moves. Magnus has one. It's just a friendly match. But Magnus always hates to lose -so he doesn't

Завдання 1.
Statements 1 through 10 (On your answer sheet + if the statement is true, - if it is false.)
1. Magnus is of Swedish descent.
2. Chess players are considered to be pokerfaced.
3. Chess is now routinely taught in schools all over the world.
4. Magnus has never been a fashion model, but rather only a chess player.
5. Genius cannot be taught
6. Many people do not consider chess to be a sport.
7. It takes little physical endurance to be a great chess player.
8. Magnus is the youngest person ever to be the number-one player in the world.
9. Magnus cannot see; he is blind.
10. Henrik is Magnus' brother.

Questions 11 through 20 (On your answer sheet, circle the correct letter: A, B, C, or D.)
11. All of the following statements are true, EXCEPT:
A. Magnus is a Norwegian. B. Magnus defeated grand champion Boris Spassky.
C. 500 million people play chess worldwide.
D. Chess is now routinely taught in schools all over the world.
12. The article states that "chess players are pretty pokerfaced." From the context of this article, one can
infer that "pokerfaced" means:
A. a liar. B. unable to play poker.
C. showing no emotion. D. someone who is always smiling.
13. According to the article, Magnus travels a great deal. He is usually on the road:
A. two- hundred days per year. B. twenty days per month.
C. two hundred hours a week. D. twenty weeks per year.
14. To be a great chess player like Magnus Carlsen, the article states that all of the following are necessary
EXCEPT:
A. a high protein diet. B. tough physical workouts.
C. extraordinary endurance. D. an attitude that he will win.
15. In the article, it states that the game of chess can be "cutthroat." "Cutthroat" in this context probably
means:
A. dangerous. B. intelligent.
C. relentless or merciless. D. relaxing.
16. In the text, chess is compared to:
A. basketball. B. baseball.
C. boxing. D. karate.
17. According to the text, Magnus competes against ten players simultaneously. What makes this even
more difficult is that:
A. all the chess players are pokerfaced. B. Magnus is blindfolded.
C. Magnus cannot see the other boards because he is not in the same room.
D. Magnus cannot see the other boards because he is facing the other way.
18. According to the text, which of the following is NOT true about Magnus Carlsen?
A.He is the best in the world. B. He was originally born in Russia.
C. He works out physically almost every day. D. He is the youngest number-one chess player ever.
19. According to the article, the main goal of Magnus Carlsen when playing chess is to:
A. demolish, not defeat, his opponents. B. become the number one player in the world.
C. teach his opponents how to be better players. D. defeat his opponents.
20. For fun, Magnus likes to:
A. bicycle. B. swim.
C. play chess. D. drive fast cars

Writing Comprehension Test. Directions:

In this Test you will select from the three tasks one which you feel you are most capable to write about.
You will then begin writing your essay on the pages provided.
1. Many people around the world think that “volunteer work” is a valuable thing, but some
people think it is a waste of time. Write pros and cons of “volunteer work” and give
your opinion.

2. Read and think about the following statement: Only people who earn a lot of money are
successful. Do you agree or disagree with this definition of success? Use specific
reasons and examples to support your opinion.

3. With all the pressures of the modern world, time is an important factor in our lives
today. How does time impact your life? Do you follow a strict schedule and calendar, or
do you take life as it comes?