TERM TEST 2 Name Mark

Reading Read the text and answer the questions that follow.

Prom Night: Too Much of a Good Thing?

I Emerging from limos, the beautifully dressed young men and women wouldn’t be out of place at a
Hollywood awards ceremony. But instead, they’re going to “prom”.
II Prom – a dance, often with dinner – originated in the late 1800s as a college event, but has been an
American tradition for graduating high-school students for about 80 years. Proms have recently caught
on elsewhere, including France, Britain and Serbia, which some social historians link to the influence of
popular American films and TV programmes.
III Over the years, proms have become increasingly lavish. In the US, prom attendance can cost an average
of about $1,100. In the UK, it’s about £240, and in Serbia, about €500. The money goes, first of all, on
clothes. Girls often buy expensive dresses, and may spend a small fortune to get their hair, nails and
make-up done. For the boys, there are tuxedo rentals or suit purchases. Then, there are the prom tickets,
which in the US can cost $100 or more. And finally, kids often hire a limousine and driver.
IV Why are people willing to spend so much? According to consumer psychologist Kit Yarrow, the
evening fulfils some prom goers’ fantasies of stardom. It is, she says, “their red carpet moment”.
V Prom also provides students with a chance to display their creativity by organising a clever prom
invitation, or “promposal” (a combination of “prom” and “proposal”). In the US, this has become a
significant event in itself, and includes things like organising flash mobs to surprise someone with an
invitation.
VI Of course, not everyone loves prom. For some teens, it’s a source of anxiety and stress. Others object to
the values it promotes. An organisation called promRED encourages teens to spend less on their prom
or to not hold one at all, and donate money to charities instead. And in 2013, a graduating class in
Serbia wore T-shirts to their prom and donated the money they would have spent on fancy clothes to
three local children with disabilities.
VI Completing school is an important milestone and should indeed be celebrated. But is prom the best way
I to do this? What do you think?

1 Choose the correct answer. (2 x 2 = 4 points)

1. The American prom tradition began ...... .
a. as a Hollywood awards ceremony
b. in colleges in the 1800s
c. 80 years ago
d. as a high-school graduation ceremony
2. PromRED ...... .
a. is the name for a special kind of prom
b. helps American teens plan proms
c. donates money to proms
d. promotes giving to charity

1
 TERM TEST 2

2 Complete the sentences. (3 x 4 = 12 points)

1. The recent popularity of proms in other countries may have been .........
............................................................................................................... .
2. Prom fulfils some teens’ fantasies of being ............................................
............................................................................................................... .
3. One way to make a clever promposal is to .............................................
............................................................................................................... .

3 Answer the question. (1 x 3 = 3 points)

What effect does prom have on some students?
.......................................................................................................................

4 Find words or phrases in the text that mean: (6 x 1 = 6 points)

1. not feeling like you belong (paragraph I) ....................................................................
2. connect (paragraph II) ....................................................................
3. extravagant (paragraph III) ....................................................................
4. fame (paragraph IV) ....................................................................
5. be against (paragraph VI) ....................................................................
6. a significant event related to a big change (paragraph VII) ....................................................................

Writing
Write an opinion essay (120–150 words) supporting or arguing against having a prom. (25 points)