Reading

Read the text carefully then do the activities.

                                                         Reading is better

      Do you want to be a better reader? Turn off the television! A recent study found
that kids younger than 6 spend about two hours a day watching TV, playing video
games, or using computers. That is about the same amount of time they spend with a
book! The study which was released on Tuesday included more than 1,000 parents of
kids between the ages of 6 months and 6 years.

     Spending a lot of time on the computer, watching TV or playing video games can
make it hard to get better at reading. Kids who live in homes where the TV is on
“most of the time” are less likely to be able to read by age 6.

     Reading is still popular, though. Almost 80 percent of kids under 6 are exposed to
books. In fact researchers say kids spend an average of 49 minutes a day with a book.
And what is the average amount of time spent in front of the TV or computer? About
2 hours and 22 minutes!

     Victoria Rideout, a researcher for the study, said kids who watch TV, use
computers, and play video games will have an advantage in their lives. She says
media can help their learning, but there are disadvantages, too.

     Dr. Henry Shapiro studies kids’ development and behavior. He says reading,
playing with toys, and talking with others is much better for kids’ learning than
watching TV. He also says there is a good side of TV, computers and video games.
“Kids are home, safe, they are learning things.”

                                       Adapted from www.timeforkids.com. Oct 31st 2004

A.    Comprehension( 7pts)

1.      Choose the right answer.

a.       This document is: a) a newspaper article   b) a website article 

b.      It is about: a)  children, TV and reading    b) learning with computer and TV

c.       This document wants: a) to convince us that reading is the best way to learn

b) to inform us on the place of TV in children’s education

 3.    Say if the following statements are true or false.

a.    Children spend less time watching TV than reading.

b.    Children do not read anymore.

c.     TV prevents children from learning.

d.     Dr. Shapiro is totally convinced TV is bad.

4.    Answer the following questions according to the text.

a.     When was the case study released?

b.    How many parents were included in the case study?

c.    What was the age of their children?

d.    What is the advantage of media on children?

5.      In which paragraph is it mentioned that reading is much better for children’s
learning than watching TV.

B.     Text exploration (8pts)

1.      Find in the text words closest in meaning to the following.

a)      children (§1)                                 b)    difficult: (§2)  

2.      Find in the text words opposite in meaning to the following.

a)       older (§1)#                                  b)   in danger (§5) #

3.      Complete sence ‘b’ so that it means the same as sentence ‘a’.

a.       “I am fond of computers games,” he said.  

b.      He said that……………………………………………..

a.“Do you have an e-mail box?” she asks me.  

b.She asks me………………………………………….

4.      Complete the following sentences with “neither…nor” / “both…and”

a.       She prefers ……………………..shopping ……………reading a book. But

don’t ask her to do the housework.

b.      I will ……………..play video games…………………go to the movies. I just

want to see a good film on TV.

5.      Complete the following paragraph with the appropriate word from the
following list:

                          watching, than , picture, both

        We can learn a lot from ………..books and television. However, I prefer
……………………. television because it is more relaxing. Moreover, you have the
sound and the………………… which helps you understand better. Therefore, I spend
more time watching TV ………… reading books.

Part two: written expression (5 pts)

Choose one topic only.

Topic 1:        Many adolescents are becoming addicted to the Internet. According to

recent surveys, most of them said, ‘ we interested in video games.’

Why do these adolecents spend hours playing games? 

What are the dangers of doing so?

What should be done, then?

Topic 2:        

Do you prefer reading books or using the computer and watching TV?                        

Write a short paragraph of about (80 words) stating your reasons.

                                                                                        Mrs A.Akmoun

                                                                                 Alkhawarizmi High School

                                                                                                2010

Money, Money, Money…

PART ONE: Reading

Read the text carefully then do the activities.                             

Money, Money, Money…

According to surveys, 11-16- year-olds in the UK have £6.09 a week on average in

their pockets, and in the US, $19.17- that’s much more than in the past. Parents are
giving more money to their children, but young people are also more responsible for
their money than before. They try to earn it themselves. They also open bank accounts
to save their money instead of spending it all at once.

Jobs                                                                                                                    Typical
jobs for teenagers are baby-sitting, newspaper rounds, and helping at home: cleaning
and cutting grass. Boys and girls in the UK earn an average of  £65 a week doing
these jobs between the ages of 11 and 13 and £4.55 when they’re 14-16.In the US,
47% of teenagers say most of their money comes from part-time jobs. When they’re
16, more than 60% of teens start summer jobs and earn a lot
more!                                                                            

Pocket Money

Last year in the UK, average weekly pocket money for 14-16-year-olds was             £
5.66. In the US, teenagers say they get $5 to $10 per week .But 45% of 12-18-year-
olds say they get regular pocket money.US teenagers say they feel very independent,
but 53% admit they often still depend on parents  and family for money.

 What is it spent on?

Sweets and chocolate are still favourites for teenagers. In the UK, 57% spend their
money on these products.

Sociologists have noticed that as more British teenagers have mobile phones, fewer
teenagers smoke. One theory is that teenagers can’t afford to pay for both cigarettes
and phone calls. In the US, teenagers can drive a car at 16, and the first thing they
save for is a car. The second thing they save for is university, because it is very
expensive in the US.

                                                         Adapted from Easy Going N°4, 2001

A.    Comprehension (8pts)

1.      Is there any negative sentence in the 4th paragraph? If so write the sentence.

2.      Choose the right answer.

a.       This article is : a) a report         b) an interview

b.      It deals with: a) the story of money in the UK and the USA.   b) how British and
American teenagers get and spend their pocket money.   

3.      Say if the following statements are true or false.

a.       Parents give less money to their children nowadays.

b.      More than half of British Teenagers spend their money on sweets and chocolate.

c.       Most American teenagers are financially independent.

d.      British teenagers do not smoke because they have a mobile phone.

4.      Answer the following questions according to the text.

a.       What are the typical jobs for teenagers?

b.      Why are teenagers more responsible for their money?

c.       Why do most American teenagers get more money when they are 16?

d.      What do most American teenagers save their money for?

5.      What do the underlined words refer to in the text?

a)      Themselves (§1):                                   b) it (§4):

     

B.     Text exploration (7 pts)

1.      Find in the text words closest in meaning to the following.

a)      economize(§1):                                        adolescents (§2):

2.      Find in the text words opposite in meaning to the following.

a)      Full-time (§2)#                                          cheap (§4)#

3.      Complete the following sentences with: must/ mustn’t / needn’t / have to/don’
have to

a.       Young people ……………………………waste their money on useless

products.

b.      Teens ………………………..save their money if they want to get a car at 16.

4.      Fill in the gaps with the appropriate reflexive pronoun (myself, himself,
themselves…)

a.       Teens earn money……………………………………….

b.      Each teen wants to buy a car………………………….

5.      Ask a question which the underlined word answers.

Money makes the world go round.

6.      Complete the following paragraph with the appropriate word from the
following list:

                           newspapers, because, spend, money

I am Howard,  14 years old, I get £1 a week pocket ……………., and I earn £2.50
from my paper round. I deliver …………………….. in the evening for a newsagent
in our village. I ……………… . A lot of money on records. I also buy a lot of stamps
……………………..I like writing to pen friends.

 
PART TWO: WRITTEN EXPRESSION (5PTS)

                              Choose one topic only.

Topic2:   Do you think it is important for teenagers to have some money in their
pockets?

Write a short paragraph of about (80 words) stating your reasons.

                                                                                         Mrs A.Akmoun

                                                                                 Alkhawarizmi High School

                                                                                                2010

               

                                                                                     2009-2010

Albert Einstein

PART ONE: READING (15pts)

Read the text carefully and then do the activities.          

                                                   ALBERT EINSTEIN             

Albert Einstein was a German-born physicist, although most people probably know
him as the most intelligent person who ever lived. His name has become part of many
languages when we want to say someone is a genius, as in the phrase, “She’s a real
Einstein”. He must have been pretty brainy to discover the Theory of Relativity and
the equation E=mc2.

In 1999, ‘Time’ magazine named Einstein as the Person of the Century. No one could
have guessed this would happen when he was at school. He was extremely interested
in science but hated the system of learning by heart. He said it destroyed learning and
creativity. He had already done many experiments, but failed the entrance exams to a
technical college.

He didn’t let this setback stop him. When he was 16, he performed his famous
experiment of imagining traveling alongside a beam of light. He eventually graduated
from university, in 1900, with a degree in physics. Twelve years later he was a
university professor and in 1921, he won the Nobel Prize for Physics. He went on to
publish over 300 scientific papers.
Einstein is the only scientist to become a cult figure, a household name, and part of
everyday culture.  

                                                                       Breaking News English

                                                                                                                                           
  

A.    COMPREHENSION (8 pts)

1.      Choose the best answer

a.       Albert Einstein was:   

a) an inventor               b) a physicist            

b.      Physics is the study of:    

a) matter and energy such as heat, light and sound    

b) earth’s surface, climate and population

c.     According to Einstein learning by heart destroyed:

a)  creativity                b) the Nobel Prize

d.    “A real Einstein” means:  

a) a professor of physics      b) a genius

2.       Are the following statements true or false? 

a.       Albert Einstein was an excellent student at school.

b.      He performed his famous theory at the age of 16.

c.       He became a university professor in 1912.

d.      He was named the person of the century in 1900.

3.       Answer the following questions according to the text.

a.       When did he graduate from university?

b.      What was his most important theory?

c.       For which subject was he awarded the “Nobel Prize”?

d.      How many papers did he publish?

 

1.      What do the underlined words refer to in the text?

a.       Who: (§1)                                             b.     it: (§2) 

B.    Text Exploration (7pts)

1.      Match the words with their synonyms.

words synonyms
Genius Mastermind

Papers Problem

Setback Reports

brainy intelligent

2.      Find in the text words opposite in meaning to

a.      Stupid (§1)#                                       b.    succeeded (§2)#

3.      Complete with “who” or “whom”

a.      The scientist ……………..formulated the theory of relativity in

1905 was awarded the “Nobel Prize” in 1921. …………………...was

he? Albert Einstein.

b.      Louis Pasteur …………………….a lot of people were grateful to,

discovered the vaccine against rabies.

4.      Join the following sentences with:

though, although, or however

a. Thomas Edison’s inventions were great. He remained a modest man all

    his life.

b.  Einstein’s discovery revolutionized science. It led to the making of the

    Atom Bomb.

5.Fill in the blanks with the following words:

sense, small, years, invented, away, allow, better, means

Through the …………..man has ………………many instruments to help

him see………..and understand more. The telescope, for example was

invented to…………..him to look at far……………planets, to see the

very………things in the world. Radio, telephone and telegraph

are………….by which man has extended the range of his ………….of

hearing and speech.

PART TWO: Written Expression(5pts) 

Choose one topic only

Topic one:

Write a paragraph about an invention. What is it? Who invented it? When was it
invented? What is it used for? 

Topic two: Write the biography of “Marie Curie”

Nationality Polish-date of birth 1867-place of birth Warsaw-First

work governess- saved money and studied at the Sorbonne (famous

French University) She became a research scientist –Married

Pierre Curie in 1895- they discovered radium-Won the Nobel Prize

for physics in 1903 and 1911-Date of death 1934.