TEST 3 READING TASK 1 SHOPPING ON THE INTERNET

1. Shopping on the Internet or "shopping on-line" is becoming more and more popular. More and more people are
using the Internet to buy things. Why do people use the Internet to shop? B
2. Some people say it is more convenient. They don't have to leave their homes to order something, and they can shop
for anything they want at any time, day or night.
Other people say they can find things for sale that they can't find in the stores near their homes. Still other people say
they can find better prices on the Internet. E
3. If you want to buy something on the Internet, you need a credit card. You have to type your credit card number and
some other information on the website and send it to the store over the Internet. You have to be sure that the store will
not use your information in the wrong way. You don't want someone to get your credit card number and charge
something to your account. Of course, you always have to be careful with your credit card number, because people
sometimes steal credit card numbers from stores and restaurants too. G
4. For people who are too nervous to shop on-line, the Internet is a good place to go window-shopping. Window-
shopping is when you go to a store and look at the things for sale, but don't plan to buy anything.
Window-shopping is easy on the Internet. You can see what kinds of products are available and how much they
cost. You can visit stores with branches near you, or you can visit stores that are only on the Internet. D
5. Some stores have a website for information about their stores, but not for shopping. Some stores have a website
for information about their stores, and you can shop on-line there too. Some stores are only for on-line shopping. F
A A certain time for shopping on the Internet
В Growing popularity of the Internet
C Getting credit cards from other people
D Window-shopping as a way-out for people who are afraid to buy something
E The reasons of using the Internet for shopping
F Websites for stores
G The necessity to have a credit card for buying something
H An opportunity to know which goods aren't available
TASK 2 THE COMPREHENSIVE EXPERIMENT FAILED
The comprehensive experiment was bound to fail because it never was genuinely all embracing,
say the authors of a unique study comparing the selective and non-selective school systems.
Where secondary moderns were abolished, the baby was thrown out with the bath water in a
desperate attempt to bring in grammar schools for all.In the mid-1990-s, a community in Wales
partially reorganized its schools, leaving one-third of all pupils attending the old selective
secondary modern and grammar schools and putting the rest in to the new 'comprehensives'.
Both groups were as near identical as possible on a wide range of social and academic
measures, and the two systems ran in parallel for four years. The results make gloomy reading
for the nonselective lobby. Not only did the comprehensives underachieve academically but
they did particularly badly by comparison socially. Selective schools were superior on a range
of measures from reading tests to A level attainment where they gained 10 per cent more
passes, with twice the number at A grade.
Delinquency rates were doubled in comprehensive schools, where attendance figures also
compared poorly. Average attendance rates were 68 per cent compared with 79 per cent in the
selective schools. Greatest disaffection was shown by pupils in the bottom third of ability
levels, whose attendance averages were 49 per cent compared with 83 per cent.
Indeed, it was the middle and lower ability pupils, who were alleged to be the losers under the
selective system, that the comprehensives failed most consistently. Higher ability students were
catered roughly on a par with the most able in the selective system. The rot set in with the
short-sighted, elitist policies of the Labour Party, say the authors, who point out that it was not
as though there were not due warnings from the education profession.
"Seeing that the system of election at 11 was both unpopular and discredited, knowing that
grammar schools had status and respect in all sectors of the community, there were clear
electoral advantages for the Labour Party to gain from embracing the notion of comprehensive
schools as a grammar school for all.
But in the 'grammar for all' comprehensive schools, pupils voted with their feet. Truancy was
selective with best attendance on days with subjects such as metalwork, woodwork, bricklaying
and motor mechanics.
Comprehensives were failing for many reasons: the schools had poor management methods for
their large size, they lacked pupil involvement, pastoral care provision was inadequate,
relationships with parents were poor, and strict rules put too great an emphasis on the academic
at the expense of social development.
The answer, say the researchers, is to shift attention away from the top one-third of the ability
range who have proved more than able to cope, and to care more, socially and academically, for
the lower two-thirds
"Unless the schools manage to give all children the social development that parts of the
education system have managed in the past, together with intellectual development that other
parts of the education system have delivered, the future of the British society will in our view
be bleak".
6. Alongside with abolishing Secondary Modern Schools, ............
A authors of a unique study completed their research.
В the system of selection at 11 was discredited.
C none of the mentioned above.
D some crucial factors were overlooked.
7. Lack of attention to social aspects of education in comprehensive schools brought about ............
A general unpopularity of the Labour Party educational policy.
В numerous disadvantages for top-ability students.
C poor management methods.
D increase in crimes committed by pupils.
8. The Labour Party initiated the reform ............ ............ ............
A though there had been objections from specialists.
В though it had clear electoral advantages.
C as the educational system of the past had completely failed.
D as pupils voted for it.
9. The comprehensive system turned out to have failed in educating ............
A all categories of pupils.
В higher ability pupils.
C lower ability pupils.
D middle and lower ability pupils.
10. According to the researchers, comprehensives ............
A gave pupils a wide range of social and academic opportunities.
В were doomed from the start because they were not socially adequate.
C used to have a higher status in the British society.
D emphasized the importance of selective system in education.
11. The new type of grammar schools ............
A envisaged more attention to pupils with poorer academic performance.
В focused on intellectual development.
C was supposed to become a new comprehensive alternative for pupils of various social backgrounds.
D none of the mentioned above.
TASK 3 HOTELS
12. Stay here. Fly there. E
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participating hotels and stay anytime now through December 31, 2009 and get a flight voucher redeemable for
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purchase. With hundreds of hotels and cities to choose from, the more heres you have the more theres you can
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13. PURE INDULGENCE, MARRIOTT STYLE H
Immense yourself at the environmentally friendly Melbourne Marriott Hotel with
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Package includes: Accommodation in a Premiere room Buffet breakfast for two in Essence restaurant
Pure Essence aromatherapy organic products
Valet car parking Sparkling wine on arrival From $ 324/night

14. The Punch Bowl Hotel, Askham B

Near Penrith
A typical old Westmorland Inn of the 17th century, near to Lowther Castle, situated amidst beautiful Moorland and
Fell scenery, with all modern amenities: electric light, hot and cold water in bedrooms, garage, etc.
Fully licensed. Residential. A.A.
Telephone: 254 76589005

15. The Trafalgar London Hotel G

2 Spring Gardens, Trafalgar Square, London, UK SW1A 2TS
The Trafalgar, modern and contemporary, provides an impressive contrast to the capitals more traditional
hotels. With several deluxe and deluxe plus rooms offering stunning views across the Square, this exciting new
approach will appeal to those who enjoy a chic, comfortable yet minimalistic lifestyle. Within the heart of
London's theatre district and net door to the city's main shopping streets, the Trafalgar is close to famous
attractions such as the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey and the London Eye.

16. Conrad San Juan Conrado Plaza C

999 Ashford Avenue, San Juan, 00907, Puerto Rico/ Tel: 778-221-1000
A 14 % daily resort charge will be added to your rate and includes: WiFi, Fitness Center, local & 800 calls,
Tennis courts, In-room coffee, 24-hour casino 8c pool amenities. This fee is in addition to the rate quoted and is
not a government imposed charge.
Welcome to the Conrad San Juan Conrado Plaza, where the lavish comforts of a contemporary resort blend
imaginatively with the colourful and effervescent magic of the island of Puerto Rico.
A The hotel is proud of its ability to provide business travelers with comfortable accommodation.
В The hotel is a combination of antiquity and modern conveniences.
C There is a rise in price connected with certain conveniences in the hotel.
D The lobby of the hotel- is equipped with Wi-Fi internet.
E The service is available on booking well beforehand.
F Enjoy 360° views of the city from the 28th-floor restaurant.
G The hotels location makes it an outstanding tourists' accommodation center.
H Guests of the hotel enjoy natural perfumery.

TASK 4 COMPUTERS IN THE CLASSROOM

Kids are going all over the world without ever leaving their school. They are using their computers. A school in
California could be the most wired school in America. They are wired to the Internet (17) .D.. .
Thirty students are able to use the Internet every day. The kids are between the grades of kindergarten and fifth
grade. The teacher says that it is hard (18) ..G.. from the computers. They do not even want to go to recess.
Internet has opened the world to many people. Now students can go to any library on earth. They can get
information. They can visit a child in another country.
Laura Bacon likes to visit with other students. She's going to Peggy's page. Peggy is a school student in
London, England. She put (19) ..C.. on the Internet. It includes pictures of Peggy, her school her mom, dad and
friends. You can send her mail, too.
A scientist helped to wire the school. He says, "There is a plan to connect 12 thousand California schools (20)
H.... ." Wiring schools in California can cost a lot of money. It needs to be done on volunteer effort or schools
will not be able (21) ...B. . They think that it will cost as much as fifty billion dollars.
Some people say that the money should be spent (22) ..F... instead of computers. Some people say that it would
be worth it to wire all of the classrooms.
 A to avoid the Internet E to few people
В to afford it F on teachers
C her own home page G to get them away
D through their computers H to the Internet
After weeks of speculation Britney Spears has (23) .... her "letter to the fans." In the letter the superstar announces
that she is (24) .......... from her career to enjoy the "simple things" in life that she has (25) .......... on over the past
few years. (26) ......... Spears is taking a break from the limelight she says that she really wants to watch "Saved"
with Mandy Moore and re-runs of "Sex and the City."
Don't (27) ........ the singer to just be sitting around on this break though she and husband, Kevin Federline, will be
taking their honeymoon. On that note, Britney says, "Being married is GREAT and I can't wait to start my family."
After reading this letter I must admit that my (28) .... toward Britney has grown. While I have been a fan of Britney
since the beginning I have been somewhat annoyed with her publicity antics over the past few years. I mean, the
Madonna kiss was HOT, but it was (29) ..... just another attempt for her and Madonna to land on the (30) ..... of
every magazine worldwide. And, the 55- hour wedding was a great way to garner some much needed attention after
"In the Zone" sales weren't doing so well. But, Mrs. Federline is ready to put all that (31) ...... her. "My prerogative
right now is to just chill & let all of the other overexposed blondes on the cover of US Weekly be your
entertainment... GOOD LUCK GIRLS!!"
As for all the antics, Britney says, "I'm sorry that my life seemed like it was all over the place the past 2 years, it's
probably because IT WAS!" She continues, "I understand now what they mean when they talk about child stars.
Going & going & going is all I have ever known since I was 15 years old.
It's amazing what advisors will push you to do, even if it (32) ....... taking a naive, young, blonde girl & putting her
on the cover of every magazine." While Britney may hope that the letter puts (33) ..... to the chaos of paparazzi that
surrounds on any given day, it is highly doubtful that any of that will come to an end anytime soon. I would like to
wish Britney and Kevin the best of luck on their marriage. I (34) ...... to seeing and hearing more from Britney in the
future. So, what do you think of Britney's letter? Tell us in our brand-new column "Letters to the Editor".
23 A put out В let C released D produced
24 A taking a break В breaking C pausing D cutting off
25 A missed over В missed C missed out D missed of Don’t sure about any of them
26 A During В While C As D Though
27 A make В let C expect D want
28 A respect В hatred C enjoy D hostility
29 A apparent В evident C clear D obviously
30 A bottom В cover C folder D title
31 A behind В before C in front of D above
32 A equals В stands for C means D proposes
33 A a cease В an over C a finish D an end
34 A hope В look forward C want D expect
Mrs Jackson thought George was an ideal neighbour. He was a shy person who (35) ............ himself to himself,
and he was always polite. He was about fifty, with greying hair, and he had never married. Hardly (36) ............
knew what he did. Whenever he was asked about his job, he simply (37) ............ and said that he worked for
the government. He (38) ............ get up early and leave the flat at 8 o'clock, taking the underground to St James'
Park, where he got off and walked the rest of the way to his office. As a rule he returned at about 6 o'clock,
usually (39) ............ home some papers to work on in the evening. He only went out once (40) ............ two or
three weeks, and apart from that, as far as Mrs Jackson could tell, he saw nobody socially.
35 A keep В keeps C kept D was kept
36 A someone В anyone C no one D everyone
37 A had smiled В was smiling C smiles D smiled
38 A should В could C was D would
39 A brings В having brought C bringing D had brought
40 A every В each C any D some
Only a few years ago, people were saying that with the widespread use of computers, we would use less paper,
and so destroy (41) ............ trees. Unfortunately, the opposite seems to (42) ............ , and we are using, and
wasting far more paper than ever. What's more, computers have actually created a much bigger problem. The
machines themselves become out-of-date after only a few years of use. And when you get a new PC, what do
you do with the old one? If it's in good condition, you might sell it, but let's be honest, there is limited demand
for out-of-date equipment these days. But before you hide it in a cupboard worse than still, send it to a rubbish
dump, why not (43) ............ some alternatives? For example, you could give it to a charity that might be able to
put it to good use. The Computers for School Programme estimates that there are two (44) ............ of computer
stations available in schools which cannot afford the technology to fill them. If your system is too outdated to
donate, then try and find someone (45) ............ to. recycle it. You may (46) ............ pay for the service, but at
least you won't be accused of wasting the world's resources any more than you need to.

41 A less В little C fewer D least

42 A had happened В have happened C happening D had been happening
43 A considering В to consider C be considering D consider
44 A million В millions C million's D millions'
45 A will В willing C would D would will
46 A must В might C ought to D have to
51. This is. You would like to write your letter to your pen-friend in India about the way you spend your
spare time. Write about the following: — how you usually spend your spare time; — about your hobbies;
— about the day in your life you enjoyed most of all;
— about the entertainment you would have if your pen-friend came to your country.