Name: ______________ Class:_____( ) Date:________ Mark:___

NEWSPAPER CUTTING (SCMP 9-6-2005)

Task One: Look at the heading and the picture below and write down what has come
to you mind in 50 words.

Task Two: Read the article below and answer the questions in complete sentences.
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 1. Why do we write?

2. What, according to the writer, makes a

person enjoy reading?

3. Why are short words preferable to

complicated ones?

4. Do you agree with what the writer has

said? And why?

Task Three: Complete the following exercises

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Exercise 1: Match the phrases in Column One to the shorter ones with the same
meaning in Column Two by inserting the letters into the spaces provided.

Column One Answer Column Two

1. The conclusion a. to end
2. To terminate b. if you want to
3. In excess of c. the end
4. To purchase d. so
5. In addition e. more than
6. To commence f. to get
7. To request g. to buy
8. To receive h. to ask for
9. In consequence i. also
10. Should you so wish j. to begin

Exercise 2: Read the sentences below and then express them in a clearer way by
replacing the underlined words with the easier ones provided in the box.

Details/to tell/ to end/ send/ a year/start/ before/ fill in/ extra/ make sure

1. ___________________

2. ___________________

3. ___________________

4. ___________________
5. ___________________

6. ___________________

7. ___________________

8. ___________________
9. ___________________

10. __________________

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Exercise 3: Read the Grammar Matters Box and then give short answers to the
questions that follow.

1. Which dictionary does this box

refer to?

2. How long has a slang word been

used before it can be found in
a dictionary?

3. Use your own dictionary and

find out the meaning of the
following two slang words.
a. pleather:

b. body wrap:

5. From the Grammar Matters box, find the meaning of the following slang words.
a. orthorexics (n.)

b. rurban (adj.)

c. crackberry (n.)

End

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