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PRACTICE 25: IDIOMATIC EXPRESSIONS

VERB + NOUN ( PHRASE + PREPOSITION )


1. catch sight of : bắt gặp 21. take note of : ghi chép, để ý
2. give place to : nhường chỗ 22. give birth to : sinh con
3. give way to : nhượng bộ, chịu thua 23. make a contribution to : góp phần
4. keep pace / up with : theo kịp, sánh kịp 24. keep correspondence with : liên lạc thư từ
5. lose sight of : mất hút 25. show affection for : có cảm tình
6. make allowance for : chiếu cố đến 26. feel pity for / take ( have ) pity on : thương
7. make fun of : chế nhạo xót
8. make a fuss over/ about : 27. feel regret for : hối tiếc, hối hận
làm rối tung lên., làm om sòm 28. feel sympathy for : thông cảm
9. make room for : dọn chỗ cho 29. make a decision on/ make up one’s mind :
10. make use of : dùng, sử dụng quyết định
11. lose touch with : mất liên lạc 30. make complaint about : kêu ca, phàn nàn
12. lose track of : mất dấu 31. feel shame at : xấu hổ
13. put a stop of : làm ngừng lại 32. have a look at : nhìn ngắm
14. take account of : để ý đến, lưu tâm 33. get victory over : chiến thắng
15. take care of : chăm sóc 34. play an influence over : có ảnh hưởng
16. take notice of : lưu ý 35. have faith in : tin tưởng
17. pay attention to : chú ý 36. take interest in : quan tâm , thích thú
18. put an end to : kết thúc 37. take leave of : tu biet
19. set fire to : làm cháy, thiêu
20. take advantage of : lợi dụng

II. Fill in the blank with a suitable idiomatic expression:


1.She was furious that she was being .................... .
2.The house has been remodelled and .................. .
3.He left home without ..................... ………………………anybody.
4.The woman......whom you.........................................on the bus this morning is my aunt
5.The baby ............................whom she's going to ......................................will bring her happiness.
6. I…………………..having deceived her.
7. Tom and Dick are carrying on a discussion which I want to................ .......
8. This is a rare opportunity .....which you should ................to get a better job.
9.Mr Smith is my old teacher ......whom I have ........................................for a long time. I do
not know his present address.
10.Who will ....................………………….the children when you are away?
11.My rather does not like politics. He does not ……………............political problems and current events.
12. She always ..... ………………….. the increase of the price of goods.
13. Mary was sad and ashamed because you ..................................her.
14. They are good poor students ............................whom the school has to.......................
15. You have to study harder in order to ............................ your classmates
16. This shop is so small that we didn't ………………………………………..it.
17.. Mr Smith is a very clement woman. She ......... ………………orphans and beggars
18. Do you ........................ the "No Parking" sign?
19. The matter ........ which the press are ...................is high officials’ corruption.
20. We have to move this box in order to ..... ................................the new TV set .
21. I have some friends living in the USA . I often.............................them.
22. Your manner is quite ridiculous. I .................it.
23. The teacher says that we have to .......... ……………….our exam papers before ten
24. For generations our people ............................................many enemies and drove them away
25. The police followed the robbers but finally they ...........................................................them
26.The Press is called the fourth estate. It ...........................................the public opinion
27.I do not................................... long hair young men.
28. Do you know how to ................. …………………………this electronic computer.

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29. We should ... .........................the suffering of others.
30. English is a very important language. We .........................learning it much.
31. The houses .........which the robber ........................last night are far from our home.
32. The boys are miserable. I....................................them.
33. We are looking at the boat in the open sea, and soon we . ………………….............it
34. Please.......................................this photograph and ten me where your teacher is.
35. Did you .... .................Paul in the bookshop yesterday?
36. Have you...................... the day to start off?
37. Every citizen has to ..... …………………..................the building of his country.
38. We know he works very hard. We ...............................his success .
39. I haven't sent letters to her for a long time. In fact, we have ........................................... with
each other.
40. I’d like to.........this opportunity to explain the difficulty I’ve met.
41. He ran as fast as he could, but he was not able to ....................................his brother.
42 .We have to ................. ……………….these difficult circumstances.
43 .He lost control of his temper and ...................... ………………….his anger.
44 . Be calm, and don't .................. ……………………….such trifles.
45. You should ............................... the teacher's explanation.
46.I tried to run after her but I couldn't ......................... her.
47 .She decided to .....................these letters because they weren't necessary.
48 .Her mother was sick, so Linda had to stay at home to ................................... her.
49 .I’d like to ...........................................this opportunity to get a new job with higher wage.
50.I ...................... …………………………..him since we left school
51 .Don't you .................. ………….him. He is a pity boy.
52. You must ..................... many opportunities you have to practise speaking English.
53 .If we correspond regularly, we won't .........................………………..each other.
54 .If I .....................you in the city again, I’ll call the police.
55 .If he ............................. what the teacher says, he might make progress.
56 .Tom is old enough to .....................himself.
57. The government is determined to .......... …………………………….. crackers.
58. It's cruel to .................. ………………handicapped people.
59. Don’t..............................such an unimportant problem.
60. They do not know how to ...........................................the tool
61. He was accused of.....................................................the house
62. On the way home from work today, I...........................................my old friend
63. The teacher promised to..........................................................wishes of the students’ parents
64. I am determined to...............................................................all these rumours
65. The pile of papers couldn’t catch fire by itself .Someone must have..........................................it
III. . Complete each sentence with the correct form of MAKE or DO.
1. What do you ....................for a living ? I'm a doctor.
2. He ....................a big mistake when he changed his job.
3. You look very tired. Would you like me to ..............you a cup of tea ?
4. What have I ..............with my hand bag ? I can't find it any where.
5. Which book would you like ? Any book will ....................
6. Why does it take them so long .................decisions ?
7. They .....................of him whenever he wore his new hat.
8. Why does she ...................such a fuss of him ?
9. What have you ................with the big sum of money ?
10. Don't forget to .....................your hair before you go out.
11. Could you ...........................me a favor ? Please drive me to town!
12. He had difficult ..........................his way through the crowd.
13. It's very important to ....................a good impression at the meeting.
14. Please . sit down and .................yourself at home.
15. Don't have anything to ...............with him . He can't be trusted.

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16. I'm afraid of having nothing to ................at home.
17. When he was young ,he .......................a fortune selling clothes.
18. How would you like your steak , medium or well ...................?
19. He ......................so much noise that he woke her up .
20. The new manager ....................some changes as soon as he arrived.
21. If you want to pass the exam , you must ..............your best.
22. I want to ..................a phone call. Have you got any change ?
23. How did you ..................in your exam ? Quite well , I think.
24. Have a nice cup of tea, It will ................you good.
25. Take this medicine, It will .....................you better.
26. Be quiet! Don't ....................a sound!
27. He is busy.........................crosswords in the paper.
28. If you don't understand I'll .....................translation for you.
29. She .......................her own clothes.
30. Please, .......................your bed before breakfast.
31. They have ...................several films this year.
32. She is always ...........................trouble for her friends.
33. I couldn't ...............................my car start this morning.
34. Nothing will .....................me change my mind.
34. Nothing will ................................me change my mind.
35. She ....................the ironing every night.
36. Computers can .....................simple calculations.
37. If you .....................something wrong, will you feel sorry for it ?
38. What kind of research was the professor ......................?
39. She .......................aerobics once a week.
40. This factory ..................cars.
41. She promised to .....................her best to get a good mark.
42. She .................almost everything in the house.
43. I want time to ..................some reading.
44. They ..................too many spelling errors in the paper test.
V. Complete the sentences with a suitable preposition
1 __ second thoughts, I'll have the lentil soup after all. (In/ On)
2 Giles was mortified to discover that he had sent Cordelia a photograph of his ex-girlfriend __
mistake. (by/at)
3 The results will be published __ due course. (in/ on)
4 'Could I possibly use your phone"' 'Oh, __ all means.' (by/in)
5 The intrepid women explored the remotest part of the sierra ___________horseback. (by/on)
6 __ all likelihood, we will never know the real reason. (In/ On)
7 Kindly sign the contracts in triplicate and send back to head office return. (by/on)
8 Nobody helped him. He managed it all __ his own. (by/on)
9 The company is keeping its head above water this year, but it will have to become more efficient
__ the long run. (in/ on)
10 The proposal looks good __ paper, but there may be snags in its practical application. ( in/on )
11 The victims of the industrial accident should. __ rights, be
compensated by the factory owners. (at/ by )
VI. Complete the sentences with the correct preposition, choosing from between, among, out
of and over.
1. Bob's been ____ work for six months now.
2 _____ you and me, Smith hasn't got much of a future in the firm
:3 That book's too high up on the shelf. It's just ..............my reach
4. She's __ job at the moment, so she's struggling to make ends meet.
5. Unfortunately the catering committee can never agree.............themselves.
6 I went on waving until the car was ...............................sight..
7 We'll discuss the affair ..........................a cup of tea.

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8 It's no good trying that snack machine - it's ............................order
9 The boys were hiding ..........................the bushes in the garden
10 There's a footpath .............................the canal and the main road
11 No, I certainly won't give permission. It's ..........................the questions
12 I can only admire his conscientiousness. It's .............and above the call of duty.
13 I'm afraid those sandals are ..............................stock at the moment , madam
14 General Gibson settled in quite happily .................the Polynesian natives
16 The lift wasn't working, so she was ............breath by the time she reached the top floor.
18 Children, put your coats on if you want to play ..............................doors.
19 The photo's ................focus, unfortunately, but you can still make out the figure in the doorway.
20 This information is rather...............date, so we can’t use it in our new brochure.
MIXED EXERCISES
A. LISTENING
Part 1: Questions 1-10: Complete the form below. Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS OR A
NUMBER for each answer.
Health club customer research
Example Answer
Name: Selina Thompson
Occupation: (1)
Age group: (2).
Type of membership: (3)
Length of membership: (4). years
Why joined: Recommended by a (5)
Visits to club per month: Eight (on an average)
Facility used most: (6)
Facility not used (If any): Tennis courts
(because reluctant to (7) )
Suggestions for improvements: Have more (8)
Install (9) in the gym.
Open(10) later at weekends.
Part 2: QUESTIONS 11-20
Questions 11-14: You will hear part of a podcast for visitors to the popular holiday region called the
Treloar Valley. Choose the correct letter, A, B or C.
11. The Treloar Valley passenger ferry
A. usually starts services in April.
B. departs at the same time each day. C. is the main means of transport for local
villagers.

12.What does the speaker say about the river cruise?


A. It can be combined with a train journey.
B. It’s unsuitable for people who have walking difficulties.
C. The return journey takes up to four hours.
13. What information is given about train services in the area?
A. Trains run non-stop between Calton and Plymouth.
B. One section of the rail track is raised.
C. Bookings can be made by telephone or the Internet.
14.The ‘Rover’ bus ticket...............
A. can be used for up to five journeys a day.
B. is valid for weekend travel only.
C. has recently gone down in price.

Questions 15-20: Label the map below.

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Write the correct letter, A-H, next to questions 15-20.
15.Bus stop- 16. Car park- 17. Museum-
18.Mill- 19.Potter’s studio- 20.Cafe-

Part 3: You will hear someone talking on the radio about a fashion show. For each question, fill
in the missing information in the numbered place.
Fashion Show
Place: sports stadium
Date: (1)………………………………..
Time: 7.30
Colour of clothes: grey or(2)………………………..
Talk: at 6.30 by a (3)……………………………………
Clothes for sale: everything except (4)……………….
Prize for best design: (5)…………………………………….

Buses: depart at 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. from outside (6)……………………………………..


Part 4: Look at the six sentences for this part. You will hear a conversation between a boy, Ian, and a
girl, Zoe, about a holiday. Decide if each sentence is correct (YES) or incorrect (NO).
1. lan is going to visit relatives who live in Africa. 4. Zoe's father is unemployed
2. Zoe believes Namibia is a good place to visit. 5. Zoe’s mother dislikes flying.
3. Ian’s parents insist he must go on holiday with them. 6. Ian suggests Zoe should visit Namibia with him.

B. GRAMMAR AND VOCABULARY


Part 1: Circle the letter A, B, C, or D to indicate the correct answer to each of the following
questions.
1. This organization is quick ..........................sending relief goods to the flooded areas.
A. with B. at C. for D. about
2. Remember to appreciate what your friends do for you. You shouldn’t’ t take them ..........................
A. out of habit B. as usual C. as a rule D. for granted
3. Body language is a potent form of ..........................communication.
A. verbal B. non-verbal C. tongue D. oral
4. ..........................the students in my class enjoy taking part in social activities.
A. Many B. Most C. Most of D. The number of
5.Saturday or Sunday? ..........................day is fine. Come whenever you like.
A.Neither B. Both C. Either D. None
6. ..........................in his back that he couldn’t sleep.
A. Such was the pain B. So was the pain C. Such a pain was it D. So painful it was
7.It's difficult to pay one's bills when prices keep...........................
A. growing B. gaining C. rising D. raising
8.The visitor spoke ..........................the subject of wildlife in Northern Britain.

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A. in B. from C. with D. on
9. There is a fault at our television station. Please do not .................... your television set.
A. change B. adjust C. repair D. switch
10. What we have to do now is to ..........................calm and try to think reasonably.
A. maintain B. sustain C. suffer D. remain
11. I’ve been looking for my glasses all morning. I don’t have a .......................... where I left them.
A. clue B. hint C. sign D. theory
12. The school was closed for a month because of a serious ..........................of fever.
A. outcome B. outburst C. outbreak D. outset
13..........................watching our every move.
A. Stood a tall man at the back of the room B. A tall man at the back of the room stood
C. Stood at the back of the room a tall man D. At the back of the room stood a tall man
14. Don't worry, I won't tell anyone your secret. You can ..................... on me.
A. stand B. plan C. count D. fall
15. We couldn’t stay long, so we only wished Mark many happy..................of his birthday and hurried
to the airport.
A. days B. returns C. moments D. regards
16. He managed to finish his thesis under the .......................... of his tutor.
A. guidance B. help C. aid D. assistance
17. After years of neglect there was a huge..........................program to return the city to its former
glory.
A. preservation B. restoration C. conservation D. refurbishment
18. She is a kind of woman who does not care much of work but generally .......................... only with
colleagues for meals, movies or late nights at a club.
A. supposes B. socializes C. attends D. discusses
19. It is very easy for the undereducated to be .......................... by slick-talking salesmen.
A. put aside B. put up C. taken in D. taken away
20. We need guaranteed financial .......................... before we can even start the design work.
A. agreement B. backing C. analysis D. plans

Part 2: Write the correct form of each bracketed word in the numbered space provided.
1. He felt very (COURAGE) when he saw he had failed the exam again.
2. The teacher warned the children that if they (BEHAVE) again, they’d be punished.
3. I don’t care if you had had too much to drink. Your behavior last night was quite.(DEFEND)
4. As a result of her good (BRING), she’s made a lot of achievements in her life.
5. (EDUCATE), this TV program should be carefully censored.
6. His contribution to the development of sports makes him a(n) ( REPLACE) figure.
7. The old man collapsed after doing some (STRAIN) exercises.
8. The thing I hate about John is his (RELY).
9. There was a heavy (pour) yesterday afternoon which completely ruined the church garden party.
10. What you say sounds good in theory, but it may be quite (PRACTICE) in life, I’m afraid.
11. In critical situations, they often lose because they play so (PROFESSION).
12. ( POLLUTE) released from these factories are a danger to the environment.

Part 3: Fill in each space provided in each sentence below with the correct form of one of the
verbs given.
1. The room (fill) with boxes of different sizes which (deliver) the day before.
2. Something (tell) me that you ( not listen) to a single word I (say) in the past tense minutes.
3. The uneaten breakfast was still on the table. She (call) away in a hurry .
4. He resented (ask) (wait). He had expected the minister to see him at once.
5. He expected (admit) to that school.
6. Miss Young remembers (see) her keys on the table yesterday.

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Part 4: Complete the sentences with the appropriate phrasal verbs from the box in their correct
form. Make any necessary changes if necessary. There are five extra ones that you do not
need to use.
take up draw up die down take over bear up
call for come up fall through give away set up
carry out drop off turn down go up go round
1. I didn’t think he would..............................................................................so well in that situation.
2. I watched a horror film on TV last night, but I can’t remember how it ended. I must
have...............................................before the end.
3. Tomorrow, we will be....................................................................an experiment to test this theory.
4. Do you think the wind has........................................enough for us to go sailing without any danger?
5. Did you hear about the millionaire who..................................................his entire fortune to charity?
6. Who is going to....................................................the family business when Arstha’s father retires?
7. You're such a good singer that you, should..........................................................professionally.
8. Before we do anything else, we ought to ......................................................... a plan of action.
9. I was ............................................................................ for the army on the health ground.
10. We’ve made all the arrangements. Let’s hope our plans don’t .................................................

Part 5: There are ten mistakes in the following paragraph. Find and correct them. Underline the
error
and write the correction in the space provided.
An endangered species is a population of an organism who is at risk of 0/ who ->/which
becoming extinct because it is both few in numbers, or threatened by 1
changed environmental or predation parameters. An endangered species 2
is usually a taxonomic species. though may be another evolutionary 3
signitìcant unit The World Conservation Union (lPCN) was calculated 4
the percentage of endangered species as 40 percent of all organisms 5
based at the sample of species that have been evaluating through 2006. 6
Many nations have laws offering protection to this species: for example, 7
forbidding hunting, restricting land development or creatìng preserves. 8
Only a little of the many species at risk of extinct actually make it to the 9
lists and obtain legal protection. 10
Much more species become extinct, or potentially will become extinct, 11
without gaining public notice.

C. READING
Part 1: Read the passage. Then do the exercises below.
Smart Energy
The next few decades will see great changes in the way energy is supplied and used. In some major
oil producing nations, 'peak oil' has already been reached, and there are increasing fears of global
warming. Consequently, many countries are focusing on the switch to a low carbon economy. This
transition will lead to major changes in the supply and use of electricity. [A] Firstly, there will be an
increase in overall demand, as consumers switch from oil and gas to electricity to power their homes
and vehicles. [B] Secondly, there will be an increase in power generation, not only in terms of how
much is generated, but also how it is generated, as there is growing electricity generation from
renewable sources. [C] To meet these challenges, countries are investing in Smart Grid technology.
[D] This system aims to provide the electricity industry with a better understanding of power
generation and demand, and to use this information to create a more efficient power network.

Smart Grid technology basically involves the application of a computer system to the electricity
network. The computer system can be used to collect information about supply and demand and
improve engineer's ability to manage the system. With better information about electricity demand, the
network will be able to increase the amount of electricity delivered per unit generated, leading to

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potential reductions in fuel needs and carbon emissions. Moreover, the computer system will assist in
reducing operational and maintenance costs.

Smart Grid technology offers benefits to the consumer too. They will be able to collect real-time
information on their energy use for each appliance. Varying tariffs throughout the day will give
customers the incentive to use appliances at times when supply greatly exceeds demand, leading to
great reductions in bills. For example, they may use their washing machines at night. Smart meters
can also be connected to the internet or telephone system, allowing customers to switch appliances
on or off remotely. Furthermore, if houses are fitted with the apparatus to generate their own power,
appliances can be set to run directly from the on-site power source, and any excess can be sold to the
grid.

With these changes comes a range of challenges. The first involves managing the supply and
demand. Sources of renewable energy, such as wind, wave and solar, are notoriously unpredictable,
and nuclear power, which is also set to increase as nations switch to alternative energy sources, is
inflexible. With oil and gas, it is relatively simple to increase the supply of energy to match the
increasing demand during peak times of the day or year. With alternative sources, this is far more
difficult, and may lead to blackouts or system collapse. Potential solutions include investigating new
and efficient ways to store energy and encouraging consumers to use electricity at off-peak times.

A second problem is the fact that many renewable power generation sources are located in remote
areas, such as windy uplands and coastal regions, where there is currently a lack of electrical
infrastructure. New infrastructures therefore must be built. Thankfully, with improved smart
technology, this can be done more efficiently by reducing the reinforcement or construction costs.

Although Smart Technology is still in its infancy, pilot schemes to promote and test it are already
underway. Consumers are currently testing the new smart meters which can be used in their homes
to manage electricity use. There are also a number of demonstrations being planned to show how the
smart technology could practically work, and trials are in place to test the new electrical infrastructure.
It is likely that technology will be added in 'layers', starting with 'quick win' methods which will provide
initial carbon savings, to be followed by more advanced systems at a later date. Cities are prime
candidates for investment into smart energy, due to the high population density and high energy use.
It is here where Smart Technology is likely to be promoted first, utilising a range of sustainable power
sources, transport solutions and an infrastructure for charging electrically powered vehicles. The
infrastructure is already changing fast. By the year 2050, changes in the energy supply will have
transformed our homes, our roads and our behaviour.
1.According to paragraph 1, what has happened in some oil producing countries?
A They are unwilling to sell their oil any more.
B They are not producing as much oil as they used to.
C The supply of oil is unpredictable.
D Global warming is more sever here than in other countries.
2.Where in paragraph 1 can the following sentence be placed?
“There is also likely more electricity generation centres, as households and communities take up the
opportunity to install photovoltaic cells and small scale wind turbines.”
A B C D
3.Which of the following is NOT a benefit of Smart Grid technology to consumers?
A. It can reduce their electricity bills.
B. It can tell them how much energy each appliance is using.
C. It can allow them to turn appliances on and off when they are not at home.
D. It can reduce the amount of energy needed to power appliances.
4.According to paragraph 4, what is the problem with using renewable sources of power?
A.They do not provide much energy. C.They do not supply a continuous flow of energy.
B.They often cause system failure and blackouts. D.They can't be used at off-peak times.
5. In paragraph 5, what can be inferred about cities in the future?

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A.More people will be living in cities in the future than nowadays.
B.People in cities will be using cars and buses powered by electricity.
C.All buildings will generate their own electricity.
D.Smart Grid technology will only be available in cities.

6.The word 'remote' in paragraph 5 could be best replace by:


A. isolated B. crowded C. attractive D. alone
7. Which word below is closest in meaning to the word 'underway' in paragraph 6?
A. permanent B. complete C. beneficial D. in progress
8.What is the main idea of the final paragraph? (paragraph 6).
A. To describe who will benefit from Smart Grid technology first.
B. To outline the advantages of Smart Grid technology.
C. To summarise the main ideas in the previous paragraphs.
D. To describe how, where and when Smart Technology will be introduced.
9. In paragraph 6, what can be inferred about the introduction of Smart Grid Technology?
A. The technologies which produce most benefits will be introduced first.
B. The cheapest technologies will be introduced first.
C. The technologies which are most difficult to put into place will be introduced first.
D. Technologically advanced systems will be introduced first.
10. Which of the aspects below are answered in the passage?
A. The ways Smart Grid technology will affect the way consumers use energy.
B. The problems which will have to be overcome in switching to Smart Grid technology.
C. How consumers are likely to respond to Smart Grid technology.
D. The reasons why Smart Grid technology will be needed in the future.

Part 2: Fill in each numbered blank with ONE suitable word. Write the words in the spaces
provided.
(1) __________________ Christmas evolved in the United States, new customs were (2)
_________________ and many old ones were reworked. The legend of Santa Claus, for example,
had (3) _________________ in Europe and was brought by Dutch settlers to New York in the early
18th century. Traditionally, Santa Claus - from the Dutch Sinter Klaas - was depicted (4)
_________________a tall, dignified, religious figure riding a white horse (5) _________________the
air. Known as Saint Nicholas in Germany, he was usually accompanied by Black Peter, an elf who
punished disobedient children. In North America he (6) _________________ developed into a fat, jolly
old gentleman who had neither the religious (7) _________________ of Saint Nicholas nor the strict
disciplinarian
(8) _________________of Black Peter.
Santa’s transformation began in 1823, when a New York newspaper published the poem “A Visit from
Saint Nicholas”, which Clement Clark Moore had written to amuse his daughter. The poem introduced
many Americans to the story of a kindly saint who flew over housetops in a reindeer-drawn sleigh.
Portraits and drawings of Santa Claus by American illustrator Thomas Nast further (9)
_________________ the legend during the second half of the 19th century. Living at the North Pole
and assisted by elves, the modern Santa produced and delivered toys to all good children. By the late
19th century he had become such a prominent figure of American folklore that in 1897, when Virginia
O’Hanlon (10) _________________to the New York Sun newspaper asking if Santa was real, she
received a direct answer: “Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus”.
Part 3: Read the following text and do the tasks below it.
Choose the correct heading for sections A-D from the list of headings below. Write the correct number,
I-VII,
in boxes 1- 4 .
List of Headings
I. The role of video violence
II.The failure of government policy
III.Reasons for the increased rate of bullying

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IV. Research into how common bullying is in British schools
V. The reaction from schools to enquiries about bullying
VI.The effect of bullying on the children involved
VII.Developments that have led to a new approach by schools

1. Section A 2. Section B 3. Section C 4.Section D

Persistent bullying is one of the worst experiences a child can face. How can it be prevented?
Peter Smith, Professor of Psychology at the University of Sheffield, directed the Sheffield Anti-Bullying
Intervention Project, funded by the Department for Education.
Here he reports on his findings
A. Bullying can take a variety of forms, from the verbal -being taunted or called hurtful names- to
the physical- being kicked or shoved- as well as indirect forms, such as being excluded from social
groups. A survey I conducted with Irene Whitney found that in British primary schools up to a quarter
of pupils reported experience of bullying, which in about one in ten cases was persistent. There was
less bullying in secondary schools, with about one in twenty-five suffering persistent bullying, but these
cases may be particularly recalcitrant.
B. Bullying is clearly unpleasant, and can make the child experiencing it feel unworthy and
depressed. In extreme cases it can even lead to suicide, though this is thankfully rare. Victimised
pupils are more likely to experience difficulties with interpersonal relationships as adults,
while children who
persistently bully are more likely to grow up to be physically violent, and convicted of anti-social
offences.
C. Until recently, not much was known about the topic, and little help was available to teachers to
deal with bullying. Perhaps as a consequence, schools would often deny the problem. 'There is no
bullying at this school' has been a common refrain, almost certainty all true. Fortunately more schools
are now saying: There is not much bullying here, but when it occurs we have a clear policy for dealing
with it.'
D. Three factors are involved in this change. First is an awareness of the severity of the problem.
Second, a number of resources to help tackle bullying have become available in Britain. For example,
the Scottish Collllcil for Research in Education produced a package of materials, Action Against
Bullying, circulated to all schools in England and Wales as well as in Scotland in summer 1992, with a
second pack, Supporting Schools Against Bullying, produced the following year. In Ireland, Guidelines
on Countering Bullying Behaviour in Post-Primary Schools was published in 1993. Third, there is
evidence that these materials work, and that schools can achieve something. This comes from
carefully conducted “before and after” evaluations of interventions in schools, monitored by a research
team. In Norway, after an intervention campaign was introduced nationally, an evaluation of forty-two
schools suggested that, over a two-year period, bullying was halved. The Sheffield investigation,
which involved sixteen primary schools and seven secondary schools, found that most schools
succeeded in reducing bullying.
E. Evidence suggests that a key step is to develop a policy on bullying, saying clearly what is
meant by bullying, and giving explicit guidelines on what will be done if it occurs, what record will be
kept, who will be informed, what sanctions will be employed. The policy should be developed through
consultation, over a period of time-not just imposed from the head teacher's office! Pupils, parents
and staff should feel they have been involved in the policy, which needs to be disseminated and
implemented effectively.
Other actions can be taken to back up the policy. There are ways of dealing with the topic through
the curriculum, using video, drama and literature. These are useful for raising awareness, and can
best be tied in to early phases of development while the school is starting to discuss the issue of
bullying. They are also useful in renewing the policy for new pupils, or revising it in the tight of
experience. But curriculum work alone may only have short-term effects; it should be an addition to
policy work, not a substitute.
There are also ways of working with individual pupils, or in small groups. Assertiveness training for

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pupils who are liable to be victims is worthwhile, and certain approaches to group bullying such as 'no
blame', can be useful in changing the behaviour of bullying pupils without confronting them directly,
although other sanctions may be needed for those who continue with persistent bullying.
Work in the playground is important, too. One helpful step is to train lunchtime supervisors to
distinguish bullying from playful fighting, and help them break up conflicts. Another possibility is to
improve the playground environment, so that pupils are less likely to be led into bullying from boredom
or frustration.
F. With these developments, schools can expect that at least the most serious kinds of bullying can
largely be prevented. The more effort put in and the wider the whole school involvement, the more
substantial the results are likely to be. The reduction in bullying - and the consequent improvement in
pupil happiness- is surely a worthwhile objective.
Questions 5-8: Choose the correct letter. A. B. C or D.
5.A recent survey found that in British secondary schools
A. there was more bullying than had previously been the case. B. there was less bullying than in
primary schools.
C. cases of persistent bullying were very common .D. indirect forms of bullying were particularly
difficult to deal with.
6.Children who are bullied
A. are twice as likely to commit suicide as the average person. B. fmd it more difficult to relate to
adults.
C. are less likely to be violent in later life.D. may have difficulty forming relationships in later life.
7.The writer thinks that the declaration 'There is no bullying at this school'
A. is no longer true in many schools. C. reflected the school's lack of concern.
B. was not in fact made by many schools. D. reflected a lack of knowledge and resources.
8.What were the findings of research canied out in Norway?
A. Bullying declined by 50% after an anti-bullying campaign.
B. Twenty-one schools reduced bullying as a result of an anti-bullying campaign
C. Two years is the optimum length for an anti-bullying campaign.
D. Bullying is a less serious problem in Norway than in the UK.

D. WRITING
Part 1: Rewrite each of the following sentences in such a way that it has the same meaning as
the first sentence, using the cues as the beginning of each sentence.
1. He did not pass his driving test until he was nearly 30
.It …….......................................................
2.The police let him leave after they had questioned him.
He ........................................................
3. Thanks to Laura's report, I was able to finish the project.
->Had it …................................................................
4. My friend took no notice of my advice
-> My friend turned .................................................................................
5. Next Sunday is our tenth wedding anniversary.
->We will have been....................................................................
Part 2: Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence,
using the word given. Do not change the word given. You must use between three and five
words, including the word given.
1. He’s not a professional singer, but he sings expressively. (ẼPRESSION)
Although he was not a professional singer,
................................................................................................
2. We are earning less than we are spending, I'm afraid. (EXPENDITURE)
Our ............................................................................................................................ our income, I'm
afraid.
3. His rude behaviour is too much for me. (PUT)

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I ...................................................................................................................................... his rude
behaviour.
4. I always trust Carla's advice. (SOMEBODY)
Carla ............................................................................................................................... I always trust.
5. Too tired to continue, Phil stopped walking. (CARRY)
Phil couldn’t ................................................................................................................ he was too tired.
Part 3: Write the second sentence so that it has similar meaning to the first one, using the
words given in the brackets. The words must not be altered in any way.
1.Many species of wild life are threatened with extinction. (VERGE)
...............................................................................................................................................................
2. We were not surprised to hear that he had been stealing money from the company. (CAME)
................................................................................................................................................................
3. As I listened to the music on repeated occasions, my respect for the composer increased.
(RẾPCTFUL)
...................................................................................................................................................................
...
4. Nobody expected her to lose, but she did. (LOST)
...................................................................................................................................................................
..
5. The film wasn't as good as we expected. (COME)

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