Units 1-2 NAME _________________________

CLASS _________________________
READING SKILLS TEST DATE _________________________

School Writing Competition Category:

A report on a group work project
Project title: Australia – the origins of our nation
1 ....................................…
The aim of this project is to discover who modern Australians are. Australia has an unusual history in
many ways. When the first Europeans arrived at the end of the 17th century, the only inhabitants of
Australia were about 750,000 Aborigine people. Today the population of Australia is 25.5 million and
only about five per cent are Aborigines. All the others are descendants of immigrants from mainly
Europe and Asia.

2 ...................................….
Our group has been researching our own family histories
for the project. We felt that our families are typical of the Australian population.
Group members:
• Ruby Nguyen, whose family came from Vietnam in the 1970s,
• Sienna Robinson, whose grandparents came from England in the 1960s,
• Mason De Vito, whose ancestors were from Italy,
• Ethan Kelly, whose ancestors were from Ireland and Scotland.

3 ....................................….
We chose a very simple way to work: each person researched
their family history as far back as possible. Then each person
gave a presentation to the group about when and why their
ancestors decided to leave their homes and sail across
the sea to start a new life. The next step was to
connect our personal stories to the various
periods of immigration to Australia.

This was a successful method and we worked

well together. We formed our group because we
are all friends and have worked together in the
past. We have a good mix of personality types and
we knew all of us were reliable, hard-working and
generous with our time and work. We shared
information and helped group members through their problems. We especially
enjoyed meeting up to hear about the family stories.

4 ...................................….
Through our project, we’ve found out things that we never imagined! Ethan is the descendant of a
19th century British criminal who was sent to Australia. Ruby’s family are recent migrants from
Vietnam and they have been living in Australia since the 1970s. Mason’s family were among the
Europeans who emigrated in the 1950s to look for a better life. Sienna’s grandparents arrived in the
1960s as part of a government plan to encourage immigration to Australia. We found from our
families’ stories that we are all typical Australians.

From our experience of working together, we’ve learnt to co-operate, to share and to be patient.
We’ve learnt how to use each person’s skills to put together the final presentation. Ruby is brilliant
with graphics and artwork, Mason has excellent computer skills, Ethan is a good organiser and Sienna
is practical and cheerful but keeps us focused on the work. We all agree it’s been a positive learning
experience which has been interesting and enjoyable.

© Cambridge University Press 2018 PHOTOCOPIABLE

TALENT 2 ■ Test book
NAME _________________________ Units 1-2
CLASS _________________________
DATE _________________________ READING SKILLS TEST
1 Look at the heading and the layout of the text, then complete the information about the purpose
of the text.

1 Form: ..........................................................................................................................................................
2 Reason for writing: ..................................................................................................................................
3 Readers: .....................................................................................................................................................
_____ /3

2 Read the text and match the headings to the paragraphs.

A What we’ve learnt C Who we are
B The project D How we have worked together
_____ /4

3 Read the text again and answer the questions.

1 What is the project about?
...........................................................................................................................
2 In what ways is the history of Australia unusual?
...........................................................................................................................
3 Why did the group decide to research their own family histories?
...........................................................................................................................
4 What was the second step of their project?
...........................................................................................................................
5 What are reasons for the group’s success?
...........................................................................................................................
6 What was surprising about Ethan’s family?
...........................................................................................................................
7 When and why did Sienna’s family leave England?
...........................................................................................................................
8 Which useful skills have they learnt from this experience of group work?
...........................................................................................................................
_____ /12

4 Decide which parts of the text are mainly fact (F) or opinion (O).
Section
1 F O
2 F O
3 1st paragraph F O
2nd paragraph F O
4 1st paragraph F O
2nd paragraph F O
_____/6
TOTAL _____ /25

© Cambridge University Press 2018 PHOTOCOPIABLE

Test book ■ TALENT 2
 Units 3-4 NAME _________________________
CLASS _________________________
READING SKILLS TEST DATE _________________________

FEVER PITCH
Nick Hornby

The cover will make you think this is a book about

football, which it is, but it is so much more than that.
It is an autobiography told through the author’s love
of football. You don’t have to be a football fan to enjoy
it. All types of readers will love this story of a young
boy growing up. It’s a book that makes you think and
laugh.

Fever Pitch isn’t a typical autobiography. Instead of

chapters, there are reports of matches in chronological
order from three stages of the author’s life: child,
teenager and young man. He tells the story of his life
through these matches. He writes about what he was
doing and the important things that were happening
in his life at that particular time: friends, family,
university, girlfriends and his first job as a teacher.
The reader watches a sad, young boy grow into a young
man and also learns what it is like to be a football fan.

The story starts when the author was 11. It was a

year that changed his life: his parents separated and he
went to see his first Arsenal match. His family was
breaking up so it was a difficult time emotionally. After the divorce, his father left the family home and the
boy only used to see him at weekends. His father was looking for a common interest to share with his son.
Arsenal football matches seemed to be the perfect solution so they used to go to the stadium together every
weekend. The interest in football was a success, but as an opportunity for father–son conversation it was a
disaster. The boy would concentrate totally on the game and would hardly ever speak. Football, but
especially Arsenal, was an escape from real life for the boy and it quickly became an obsession. While he was
growing up, football influenced every aspect of his life: friendships, family and the decisions he made. At the
end of the book, the author has finished university and he is a teacher. He is living in a flat near the Arsenal
stadium where he still goes to watch matches every Saturday.

Fever Pitch is a great success. It has sold over a million copies in the UK and there are two film versions of
it. The British film was an adaptation of the book. It focused on the adult character and the effect of football
on his relationship with his girlfriend. The American film is a re-make of the British film. It is set in Boston,
not London, and it’s about a boy’s obsession with baseball. They had to call this film The Perfect Catch to
avoid confusion with the original British film.

© Cambridge University Press 2018 PHOTOCOPIABLE

TALENT 2 ■ Test book
NAME _________________________ Units 3-4
CLASS _________________________
DATE _________________________ READING SKILLS TEST
1 Look at the title and cover of the book. What do you think the book is about?
..............................................................................................................................................................................................................
_____ /3

2 Read the review and complete the table.

Title 1
........................................................................................................................................
Author 2
........................................................................................................................................
Genre(s) 3
........................................................................................................................................

Subjects
4
........................................................................................................................................
5
........................................................................................................................................

The plot ........................................................................................................................................

6

........................................................................................................................................

Other formats
7
........................................................................................................................................
8
........................................................................................................................................
_____ /8

3 Read Paragraph 3 again and put the life events in order.

A He went to his first football match.
B He worked as a teacher and bought a flat.
C His dad moved away from the family home.
D He went to watch matches regularly with his dad.
E His parents’ marriage ended.
_____ /5

4 Answer the questions.

1 Why could you recommend this book to a person 6 Why do you think the boy became so obsessed
who isn’t interested in football? with football?
.............................................................................................. ..............................................................................................
2 What is the reviewer’s opinion of the book? 7 How do we know that the book was a success?
.............................................................................................. ..............................................................................................
3 What is unusual about the structure of the book? 8 In what ways is the British film different from the
.............................................................................................. book?
4 How does the author change during the story? ..............................................................................................
.............................................................................................. 9 What are the differences between the British and
5 Why did the father decide to take his son to football American films?
matches? ..............................................................................................
..............................................................................................

/9 _____

TOTAL _____ /25

© Cambridge University Press 2018 PHOTOCOPIABLE

Test book ■ TALENT  2
 Units 5-6
READING SKILLS TEST
IF THE CLIMATE CHANGES,
WILL OUR WAY OF LIFE CHANGE TOO?
1 ...........................................................
The climate is changing. We can see this
happening everywhere in the world.
Scientists believe that there are two main
reasons for global warming: one is a natural
change in weather patterns which has been
happening for thousands of years. The other
is human behaviour. Since the start of the
Industrial Revolution, people have burnt
more and more fossil fuels – firstly coal and
then oil – to produce energy for homes,
industry and transport. The way of life in
industrialised countries depends on huge
amounts of energy. Energy production
pollutes the environment and creates the
greenhouse gases which cause global
warming.
2 ...........................................................
Now scientists are looking at how global
warming will change our lives unless we do
something to stop it. When the environment
changes, human behaviour will probably be
different as a result. If sea levels rise, people
will have to move away from coasts and
build homes in safer places. This will create
large numbers of migrants in nearly all
countries. Extreme weather destroys homes
and towns and this creates social problems.
If it rains less often, water will become
TALENT 2 ■ Test book
NAME _________________________
CLASS _________________________
DATE _________________________
scarce and farmers will have to grow crops
that don’t need much water. In some
northern areas, higher temperatures could
mean that farmers will be able to grow a
greater variety of food. In other areas, it
might mean that no food will grow in hotter,
drier conditions. Consequently, traditional
diets will probably disappear too.
3 ...........................................................
Higher temperatures might have an effect
on people’s mental and physical health and
introduce new illnesses. For example,
malaria might spread because mosquitoes
will be able to live in the warmer
temperatures of Europe. Hot weather tends
to make people feel more irritable and more
aggressive. The consequence of this could be
an increase in violent crime. When natural
disasters, such as hurricanes, flooding and
storms happen, people lose their homes and
possessions. In the days after hurricane
Katrina hit New Orleans, thousands of people
were left without a home or food. In
desperation, they took food and the things
they needed from shops. People who would
never steal in normal circumstances found
they had no choice. This change in social
behaviour has happened in other
communities hit by extreme weather, too.
Scientists want to do more research on the
impact of the weather on people’s behaviour.
4 ...........................................................
Extreme weather conditions such as
heatwaves, high humidity, strong winds,
air and water pollution influence the way
we live and how we feel. We all know that
normal weather patterns change the way
people feel, so it isn’t surprising that
extreme weather might have an even greater
effect on everyone’s behaviour. In the
future, the police might have to work with
meteorologists, environmentalists and
criminologists when they plan crime
prevention strategies.
© Cambridge University Press 2018 PHOTOCOPIABLE
NAME _________________________ Units 5-6
CLASS _________________________
DATE _________________________ READING SKILLS TEST
1 Read the text and match the headings to the paragraphs.
A Changes to our way of life C Extreme weather and people’s behaviour
B Crime prevention in the future D The causes of climate change
_____ /4

2 Read the text again and answer the questions.

1 Why is the climate changing?
..............................................................................................................................................................................................................
2 What is the problem with the modern way of life?
..............................................................................................................................................................................................................
3 How will rising sea levels affect people?
..............................................................................................................................................................................................................
4 Why might people have to eat different food?
..............................................................................................................................................................................................................
5 How do people feel when the weather is very hot?
..............................................................................................................................................................................................................
6 How does people’s behaviour change as a result of a natural disaster?
..............................................................................................................................................................................................................
7 What are scientists interested in researching next?
..............................................................................................................................................................................................................
8 Why might the police consult meteorologists and environmentalists about crime prevention?
..............................................................................................................................................................................................................
_____ /8

3 Write questions for the answers.

1 ...........................................................................................? 4 ...........................................................................................?
Since the Industrial Revolution. People might get new or different illnesses.
2 ...........................................................................................? 5 ...........................................................................................?
It will change everybody’s lives. People lose their homes and possessions.
3 ...........................................................................................?
Farmers will have to grow plants that don’t need
much water. _____ /5

4 Write a summary of Paragraph 2 following these steps.

1 Make some notes.
2 Write your summary in about 50 words.
..............................................................................................................................................................................................................
..............................................................................................................................................................................................................
..............................................................................................................................................................................................................
_____ /8

TOTAL _____ /25

© Cambridge University Press 2018 PHOTOCOPIABLE

Test book ■ TALENT  2
 Units 7-8 NAME _________________________
CLASS _________________________
READING SKILLS TEST DATE _________________________

My health is my business – or is it?

The populations of most developed countries are much
healthier now than they were fifty years ago.
1
.................... . Scientists have discovered new drugs to
treat many serious conditions and advances in
technology have changed the ways doctors diagnose and
treat their patients. Living and working conditions have
improved, people have more free time as well as a wide
choice of high-quality food. Government health
programmes have contributed to health and well-being.
2
.................... . This is the result of campaigns to make
people aware of the dangers of smoking and laws which
ban tobacco advertising and smoking in public places.

Governments now spend a significant amount on health campaigns. If they inform people about the risks to
their health, they’ll save money in the long run because people will stay healthier and won’t need medical
care. 3.................... .
So, we have guidelines about what we ought to eat: at least five portions of fruit and vegetables a day and less
sugar and fat. The guidelines encourage people of all ages to do more exercise and get fit. There are
campaigns to make people aware of the health problems associated with being overweight. Governments
also recommend safe limits for alcohol consumption. There are even events dedicated to common health
problems such as Allergy Awareness Week and National Walking Month to inform everyone about the ways
they can prevent ill-health and improve their lifestyles.

But not everybody agrees with health campaigns. They say we are over-protected and we worry
unnecessarily about getting ill. So, would it be better to ignore the advice? Another criticism is the
contradictory advice we receive. For example, one research report says we shouldn’t eat meat and the next
day another expert tells us that meat is an essential part of our diet. 4.................... . Other people say it’s a
question of freedom of choice: if I want to smoke, never do any exercise and live on a diet of fast food and
sweets, that’s my choice. It’s a complex problem. Tell us what you think.

Lilian
I wish I’d 1.................... about the importance of a good diet was when I was younger. I ate all
the wrong things. Now I eat sensibly and I walk a lot thanks to these government 2.................... .
I’m 65 and I’ve never been fitter!

Ed
Health services are very expensive to run and governments never have enough money to
invest in them. If every individual 3.................... care of their health and avoided preventable
conditions, hospitals 4.................... more money to spend on patients with 5.................... illnesses.

Sam
I ignore all this advice. I eat and drink what I like. I don’t do much exercise 6.................... I don’t
like it. The government shouldn’t tell me how to 7.................... my life. I pay my taxes, so if I’m ill,
I should get free health care.

Salima
Health and fitness campaigns are a great idea because I’ve learnt a lot about my health from
them. I, personally, am interested in my health. If I’m healthy, I 8.................... good and I enjoy
life more.

© Cambridge University Press 2018 PHOTOCOPIABLE

TALENT 2 ■ Test book
NAME _________________________ Units 7-8
CLASS _________________________
DATE _________________________ READING SKILLS TEST
1 Read the article and complete the gaps with sentences A–E. There is one sentence you do not need to use.
A They believe that prevention is better than cure.
B People are confused and don’t know what to believe.
C Hospitals are overcrowded and don’t have enough staff to treat patients.
D Dangerous children’s diseases have disappeared thanks to vaccination programmes.
E The number of smokers has decreased and attitudes towards smoking have changed dramatically.
_____ /8

2 Read the comments section and choose the best option to complete the gaps.
1 A  told B  chosen C  known D  eaten
2 A  elections B  commitment C  diversity D  campaigns
3 A  made B  took C  did D  felt
4 A  ’ll have B  would be C  ’ll do D  would have
5 A  worst B  infectious C  serious D  heavy
6 A  because B  unless C  so D  if
7 A  have B  live C  do D  be
8 A  won’t be B  would feel C  feel D  would have felt
_____ /8

3 Read the article again and choose the correct answer according to the text.
1 People are healthier than in the past because they have …
A  vaccinations. B  good doctors. C  a better standard of living.
2 The result of anti-smoking campaigns is that there are …
A  better laws. B  fewer smokers. C  dramatic cigarette adverts.
3 If governments can stop people getting ill, they won’t have to …
A  build more hospitals. B  spend money on treatment. C  encourage people to eat healthy food.
4 Some people ignore the advice because they want to …
A  choose. B  be confused. C  eat meat.
_____ /4

4 Read the last paragraph of the article and the comments again, then answer the questions.
1 What are the two main criticisms of health campaigns?
..............................................................................................................................................................................................................
2 What does Lilian wish she had known?
..............................................................................................................................................................................................................
3 What is Ed’s opinion on health and lifestyle?
..............................................................................................................................................................................................................
4 Why doesn’t Sam agree with health campaigns?
..............................................................................................................................................................................................................
5 How does Salima feel about good health?
..............................................................................................................................................................................................................
_____ /5

TOTAL _____ /25

© Cambridge University Press 2018 PHOTOCOPIABLE

Test book ■ TALENT  2
 Units 9-10
READING SKILLS TEST
Save London’s skyline
1 3
London’s skyline is changing fast – in
2016, 26 new tall buildings were
completed. (A tall building is over 20
storeys high.) Famous historic
buildings such as Big Ben, The Tower
of London and St Paul’s Cathedral
have been joined by a new generation
of skyscrapers. Many of the new
buildings have been built using the
latest techniques and materials and
their designs have been described as
‘futuristic’. London has always been a
dynamic city and never afraid of the
new and this attitude is reflected in the
city’s architecture. When tourists visit
London, they see buildings from over
two thousand years of history: from the
remains of the Roman city walls of
Londinium to the newest skyscrapers
in the city’s financial district – and
everything in between.
2 eat in the restaurant at the bottom of the tower
Recently, plans have been announced
to build more than 400 new tall
buildings but not all Londoners are
happy about this. A survey found that
six out of ten Londoners wanted the
number of tall buildings to be limited.
People who live in the centre told
interviewers that too many tall
buildings were being built and that they
were changing the appearance of
London. As a result of protests by
residents, planners and architects, the
number of new tall buildings has been
limited.
TALENT 2 ■ Test book
NAME _________________________
CLASS _________________________
DATE _________________________
New architecture is often controversial and London is
no different from other cities around the world.
Supporters say that they love the innovative, new
buildings. They think that the city should move with the
times and they don’t want their city to become stuck in
the past. They love the variety of architectural styles
from different historic periods because they show the
history of London. Others disagree. They hate the new
buildings with their modern designs and they say they
are destroying the city’s history.
4
Controversy around modern architecture is nothing
new. In the 17th century, Sir Christopher Wren had
to re-design St Paul’s Cathedral five times before
he satisfied his critics. The Eiffel Tower in Paris
was criticised by many people including a group of
well-known artists. They said that the new, metal tower
was ugly and that it would ruin the city of Paris.
Gustave Eiffel replied that his tower would be the
tallest building in the world, which would be wonderful
for Paris. The writer Guy de Maupassant often used to
because he said it was the only place in Paris where
he didn’t have to look at it! The Guggenheim Museum
in New York, which was designed by the famous
architect Frank Lloyd Wright, was not very popular at
first. Many people said its circular shape looked like a
wash basin and other people said it would be difficult
to display pictures in it because of the curved walls.
5
Modern architecture always seems to create strong
reactions because people tend to resist change and
new things at first. It’s hard to believe now that many of
the world’s best-loved buildings were very unpopular
when they were first built.
© Cambridge University Press 2018 PHOTOCOPIABLE
NAME _________________________ Units 9-10
CLASS _________________________
DATE _________________________ READING SKILLS TEST
1 Read the text and choose the best summary.
A All modern buildings are ugly compared to old ones.
B Cities should adapt to modern life and allow more skyscrapers to be built.
C Although new buildings are unpopular at first, people learn to appreciate them.
_____ /1

2 Now complete the table about the buildings mentioned in paragraph 4.

Building City Criticism

1 ............................................... ............................ .......................................................................................................................

2 ............................................... ............................ .......................................................................................................................
3 ............................................... ............................ .......................................................................................................................

_____ /6

3 Read the text again and tick (✓) the sentences true (T), false (F) or not given (NG).
1 The skyscrapers are the first new buildings in London for 200 years. T  F  NG
2 There are two thousand historic buildings in London. T  F  NG
3 London has never stopped evolving. T  F  NG
4 A survey found that the majority of residents would like more new skyscrapers. T  F  NG
5 When it was built, the Eiffel Tower was the highest construction in the world. T  F  NG
6 Everyone welcomes new designs in architecture. T  F  NG
_____ /6

4 Fact or opinion? Read the sentences and tick (✓) fact (F) or opinion (O), according to the text.
1 The definition of a tall building is a construction which has more than twenty floors. F  O
2 Over four hundred tall buildings might be built in London soon. F  O
3 The designs of the skyscrapers are innovative and futuristic. F  O
4 The Eiffel Tower isn’t artistic and will ruin Paris. F  O
5 The Guggenheim Museum looks like a wash basin. F  O
6 With time, controversial buildings often become very popular. F  O
_____ /6

5 Answer the questions.

1 What changes have recently been made to the London skyline?
..............................................................................................................................................................................................................
2 What did the majority of city centre residents say about the new skyscrapers?
..............................................................................................................................................................................................................
3 What did Gustave Eiffel say to his critics?
..............................................................................................................................................................................................................
4 Why did Guy de Maupassant eat in the restaurant under the Eiffel Tower?
..............................................................................................................................................................................................................
5 Why did people think that curved walls were a bad idea in an art gallery?
..............................................................................................................................................................................................................
6 How do people often react to new things?
..............................................................................................................................................................................................................
_____ /6

TOTAL _____ /25

© Cambridge University Press 2018 PHOTOCOPIABLE

Test book ■ TALENT  2