Name  Class  Date 

SKILLS TEST 1 Basic

READING
1 Read the article. Choose the correct words.

A new year, and the same old life

by Alina Kandinsky
Every year, I do the same thing.
January arrives, and I decide
to change my ways and make
resolutions. Usually, they’re the
same ones. I promise that I will give
something up (usually chocolate),
take up a new hobby, or do better
in school.
The thing is that New Year's
resolutions are not new. About 4,000
years ago, the Babylonians were
making promises at the beginning
of each year to pay back any money
they owed. The Romans used to
make promises to the god Janus
(that’s who the month January is
named after) and thought of each
January as a new beginning.
These days, millions of people
are still doing the same. Typical
things they promise to do are settle
down (or travel the world), start a
new career (or retire), or become
healthier. The problem is that they
struggle with their resolutions for
a few weeks and then give up. Like
me, they go back to their usual
routine until next December.
According to some scientists, 88%
of all resolutions fail. It seems that
most of us just can’t break our bad
habits! Maybe it’s because we don’t
really want to give something up
(if I’m honest, I love chocolate too
much to stop eating it!). Or perhaps
it’s because we often decide how
we want our lives to be different
without making any real plans for
how to do it.
My own personal theory is that it’s
all the Romans’ fault! For many
of us, January is the coldest and
darkest month of the year. It’s
difficult to find a nice, fresh salad
or go for a healthy run when the
weather is freezing and horrible and
you have no energy. It’s the worst
time of the year to make plans.
Perhaps we shouldn’t try to change
our ways at the beginning of the year.
According to one article I read,
many people make big life plans
when they go on vacation. That’s
when they’re away from their usual
habits of home, work, and school
and can think more clearly about
their lives. It’s not so difficult to
form good habits in the summer,
when you have more energy and
feel more positive. So, instead of
New Year’s resolutions, maybe we
should have "summer vacation
resolutions"!

1 In January, Alina usually decides to stop / start eating 5 Alina thinks January is a bad time to make resolutions
chocolate. because of the weather / it is the New Year.
2 January is named after the Greek / Roman god Janus. 6 Alina says that people can think more clearly about

3 One thing people often decide to do in January is to their lives when they are on vacation / at work.
improve their relationships / health. 7 Alina says that during the summer, people have more

4 About 89% of people are / aren’t able to keep to energy / free time.
their resolutions for the year.
7
2 Read the article again and mark the sentences T (true) or F (false).
1 Alina makes similar life plans at the start of 6 She disagrees that January is a bad time for
each year. resolutions.
2 People started making New Year’s 7 Alina believes that we would be more likely
resolutions not so long ago. to keep to our resolutions if we made them
3 The earliest New Year's resolutions were when the weather was nicer.
about hobbies, diet, and other things. 8 She says that we should start the New Year
4 Many people find it difficult to form new in the summer and not January.
habits.
5 Alina thinks people don’t prepare properly
for changing their lives. 8

AMERICAN THINK 2nd Edition Level 3  Skills Test Unit 1 Basic  page 1 of 3 PHOTOCOPIABLE © Cambridge University Press 2022
 Name  Class  Date 

SKILLS TEST 1 Basic

LISTENING
3 Listen to the conversation and circle the correct option.

0 Petra always / doesn’t always finish her homework early.

1 Petra always / never works hard enough for her exams.

2 She wants / doesn’t want to change her habits.

3 Harry wants / doesn’t want to work immediately after finishing school.

4 He wants / doesn’t want to travel before he gets old.

5 Petra wants / doesn’t want to travel the world before she finds a job.

6 She worries / doesn’t worry about not having any money.

7 They hope / don’t think they will stay friends forever.

 7

4 Listen again and mark the sentences T (true) or F (false).

0 Petra doesn’t think she has any bad habits. T F

1 She often stays up late on her computer. T F

2 She doesn’t want to change her habits. T F

3 She wants to study economics in college. T F

4 Harry wants to start a career when he finishes school. T F

5 He prefers not to stay in expensive hotels. T F

6 He wants to travel before he retires. T F

7 Petra has plans to have children and get married. T F

8 They think it’s difficult to make good choices. T F

 8

AMERICAN THINK 2nd Edition Level 3  Skills Test Unit 1 Basic  page 2 of 3 PHOTOCOPIABLE © Cambridge University Press 2022
 Name  Class  Date 

SKILLS TEST 1 Basic

WRITING
5 You have been asked to write an article for an international website about a habit you used to have, but
don’t have now. Write your article (about 100 words) using the questions below to help you.
• What was the habit?
• Was it a good or a bad habit?
• Why did you change your ways?
• Was it difficult to change your ways?

 20

SPEAKING
6 Work in pairs. Look at the ideas below of things people often complain about. First, talk to each other
about why people often complain about these things. Then decide together which thing people complain
about the most.
their job/
school
the
weather
their family
Why do people
and friends
complain about
these things?

food technology

7 Now think of one thing or person you would like to complain about. Tell your partner what you
don’t like and why. Use the phrases below to help you.
I’m not happy with … (the amount of homework we get, the stores at the shopping center, my younger sister)
The problem is that … (I don’t have any free time during the week, they are expensive, she doesn’t listen to me)
They are always … + -ing (borrowing my things without asking)
If I’m honest, I … (probably spend longer than necessary on my homework, don’t like shopping at all,
borrow her things, too)
 20

TOTAL SCORE  70

AMERICAN THINK 2nd Edition Level 3  Skills Test Unit 1 Basic  page 3 of 3 PHOTOCOPIABLE © Cambridge University Press 2022