Unit 1 Reading test

Read the email and answer the questions.

Hi Karen,
Good to hear from you – and I’m glad you had such an exciting holiday. I can’t
believe your first question for me was about a soap!! I know you love ‘Jackson
Road’ – but to miss it while you’re on holiday... well! Anyway – here’s what
happened last week. Before you went away Jake’s mum was really worried about
Cassie – her daughter, who was waiting to go to court for killing that young
cyclist, Bruno, in her car. Remember? So, she went to court and yes, they put
her in prison. Of course everyone was really upset. When they announced the
decision Jake phoned Cassie’s boyfriend, Mark. He was driving his car through
the town centre at the time. He was going to the court but he didn’t get there on
time. Anyway when he got the message, he crashed his car and now he’s in
hospital. Cassie’s mum couldn’t stop crying so the doctor gave her some
tablets. She got very sleepy and knocked over a candle. That set fire to the
house. Her next door neighbour, Maisie, was putting out the rubbish when she
saw the smoke and called the fire brigade. Then she rushed into the house to
save Cassie’s mum but part of the ceiling fell on her. So now Cassie’s mum,
Maisie and Mark are all in hospital. At the same time – you know Grant applied
for the job at the hotel? Well, the hotel director gave the job to his girlfriend (the
hotel owner’s girlfriend, not Grant’s!) and Grant got really angry. He threw a
vase of flowers at him and the hotel owner called the police! Oh yes, and Grant’s
dad told Grant that he wanted a divorce because he was in love with Maisie.
Grant didn’t have a good time last week. I think that’s all that happened. It is so
complicated!
Give me a ring soon and we can meet up for a chat!
Love,
Laura xxx

1 Put a cross next to the things that are NOT mentioned in the
email.
1 Laura's sister ___
2 Jake's mum ___
3 Maisie ___
4 A taxi driver ___
5 The fire brigade ___
6 The hotel owner ___
7 Grant's girlfriend ___
8 Rupert, a lawyer ___
9 A doctor ___
10 Jacky ___
MARK _/10

2 Which statements are true (T) or false (F)?

1 Laura is angry that Karen has asked her about a soap opera. ___
2 Jake is Cassie’s brother. ___
3 Bruno is dead. ___
4 Cassie’s mum is in prison. ___
5 Cassie’s boyfriend is Mark. ___
6 Mark hit a cyclist. ___
7 There was a fire in one of the houses on Jackson Road. ___
8 It was an accident. ___
9 Grant got a job in a hotel. ___
10 Grant is in trouble with the police. ___
MARK _/10
TOTAL _/20
Unit 2 Reading test
Read the article and answer the questions.
No one can really predict the future – at least not accurately. However, experts
can give us an idea of what our lives will be like in ten or twenty years’ time. We
often hear about the way our houses or towns and cities will change. We also
have quite a good picture of how our transport will be different – what we will
drive and if our trains will go faster. Perhaps there won’t be cars in the future
but small planes instead! Who knows?
We don’t hear many predictions about education and the types of schools that
students will go to in the future. One reason for this is perhaps because
education – especially here in the UK – is always changing. It’s all because of
politics. One political party makes some changes to our schools and the next
government changes them again!
Experts tell us different things about how education might change. Some say
that in the future classes will be smaller because it’s better for students to be in
small groups for lessons. Others say that they will get bigger, with two teachers
in the same class. This will be good because the teachers can teach together,
learn from each other and the students will learn more from two teachers than
one. Some say that students will have more homework – others say students
will have less! But most people agree that schools in the future will be much
bigger than schools today. There will also probably not be so many. All
classrooms will have computers and some classes won’t have teachers at all. All
the teaching will happen online. Because the schools are so big students won’t
study at the same time. Some students will come to school earlier in the
morning and leave at lunchtime. Other students will have classes in the
afternoon and finish later. Another prediction is that there won’t be any school
libraries in the future because all the books will be online.
The experts don’t tell us about one thing – and that is how punishments will
change! What will happen to naughty students? Or perhaps there won’t be any
in the future! No, bad behaviour at school is one thing that I think will stay the
same!
1 Which of these things does the writer say will change in the
future?
1 houses ___ 2 transport ___
3 towns ___ 4 technology ___
5 politics ___ 6 cities ___
7 education ___ 8 food ___
9 clothes ___ 10 laws ___
MARK _/10
2 Answer the questions in your own words.
1 What does the writer suggest might be different about the way we
travel in the future?
________________________________________________________ [1]
2 Why do we not often hear about how education might change?
________________________________________________________ [1]
3 What does the writer say about class sizes? Why?
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________ [2]
4 What does the writer say about teachers?
________________________________________________________ [2]
5 What does the writer say about computers?
________________________________________________________ [1]
6 What does the writer say about school times?
________________________________________________________ [1]
7 What does the writer say about school libraries?
________________________________________________________ [1]
8 What does the writer predict will NOT change in the future?
________________________________________________________ [1]
MARK _/10
MARK _/20
Unit 3 Reading test
1 Read the article and answer the questions.
A Dangerous Job
If you had very little money and practically no food for your family, what would
you do to get it? Would you dive 40 metres underwater using tubes to breathe
for hour after hour? I’m not talking about a form of scuba diving. I’m talking
about something much more dangerous.
In the Philippines a group of fishermen use a technique called ‘pa-aling fishing’
to catch fish to sell. Fishing is a good way to earn money, but these men risk
death every day of their lives. A recent TV documentary filmed this fishing
technique and showed us the dangers these men face. As in many parts of the
world there are fewer fish in the sea where they live than there used to be. This
is because of overfishing in the past. So now the only way these men can catch
enough fish is dangerous. ‘Pa-aling’ is a form of ‘mass’ fishing. This means that a
group of men go out on a boat and then dive together to fix a big net to the
seabed. They do this with rocks. Then they wait for fish. They chase the fish into
the huge net and when they are inside the men close the net and bring it to the
surface. This method of fishing means that the men have to stay underwater for
a long time – sometimes for hours. To do this they use special tubes to breathe.
The tubes are connected to an engine that produces air. The film follows a day’s
fishing with one boat and we see that the engine is old, noisy – almost at the
end of its life. It leaks, and stops and starts. And yet it is the lifeline for all these
men. We also see that twenty or more men have tubes that are connected to the
same machine. As the men swim about underwater the tubes go round each
other. Eventually they look like spaghetti on the boat. The danger is that these
tubes could twist and twist and stop the air. Another serious danger is that the
men are underwater for a very long time and they can go down as deep as 40
metres. It is always dangerous when divers come back to the surface of the
water. If they come up too quickly they get air bubbles in their blood and they
can have serious health problems.
One old fisherman talked to the film-makers. He told them about a relative who
came up too quickly. The man is now paralysed – he cannot move. And he will
never get better. It is clearly a very dangerous way of earning money. However,
these fishermen have no choice. They say it is the only way to catch fish now.
And they are too poor to buy safer equipment. There are many dangerous jobs
in the world – but this must be one of the worst. Would you try it? We would like
to know about other dangerous jobs that you have read about. Leave your
comments on our website www.wouldyouriskit.com.
1 Read quickly and find the answers.
1 What is ‘pa-aling’? __________________________________________
2 Where can you find this? _____________________________________
3 Why aren’t there many fish here? ______________________________
___________________________________________________________
4 How far down do the men dive? _______________________________
5 How do they get air? ________________________________________
6 Why is the machine dangerous? _______________________________
7 What is wrong with the old man’s relative? _______________________
8 What is the name of the website? ______________________________
MARK _/8

2 Read the article again and answer these questions in your own
words.
1 Describe the process of ‘pa-aling’.
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
2 Why is ‘pa-aling’ dangerous?
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
MARK _/12
TOTAL _/20
Unit 4 Reading test
Read the blog and answer the questions.
18th March, 8.32pm Today I am so excited. You know I applied for the part-
time summer job at the Children’s Play Centre? Well, I know for a fact that about
thirty people from my school also applied for it. I really thought I didn’t have a
chance. A lot of the other girls have brothers and sisters and they do a lot of
babysitting for them. I’m an only child and I don’t have a lot of experience with
children. I have looked after my sister’s two children from time to time – but not
regularly. Anyway, this morning in the post there was a letter from the
Children’s Play Centre and they’ve asked me to go for an interview tomorrow
afternoon! I couldn’t believe it! It’s a bit frightening too because I’ve never been
for an interview before and I’m not too sure what to expect. I imagine they’ll ask
me about my experience and why I want the job and why I think I’ll be good at
it. Things like that. I’m also not too sure about what to wear. First impressions
are so important, aren’t they? I’ve decided to wear casual clothes – but smart
casual. I don’t think it’s a good idea to dress like my mum does for work! The
Play Centre isn’t like a bank! I’ve got a feeling I’m not going to sleep very well
tonight! Fingers crossed for tomorrow!
19th March, 7.56pm Well, everyone, I’m sure you all want to know how the
interview went this afternoon. I think it was pretty good!! I was worried
yesterday about sleeping last night but I had a really good sleep. I think my
brain was just very tired – thinking about everything! I had a good day at
school. We had a couple of tests in French and Maths and they went well. I
didn’t go to tennis after school because of the interview so I went straight home
and changed and tried to relax. Then Mum drove me to the centre. She wanted
to come in with me! Anyway, I persuaded her to have a coffee in the cafe across
the road and I went in for the interview. I didn’t have to wait very long. One girl
was in the interview room while I was waiting. She looked quite upset when she
came out. I got very nervous then! So I went in – and I had butterflies in my
stomach. There were two nice ladies in the room and they smiled at me when I
came in. I relaxed more then. Then they asked me lots of questions about
myself – like did I have any hobbies? Where did I like to go on holiday? Things
like that. Of course they asked me about children. What games I liked playing
with children and which children’s books I liked and so on. It was OK. There
weren’t any really difficult questions. But when I came out I felt so tired! I had
to sit down for a while. Crazy! They said I would get a letter in a few days to say
yes or no. So now I guess I just have to wait!
20th March, 4.12pm Got the letter! Got the job! Great news – yes!! I start the
day after school finishes for the summer break. I can’t wait. Wicked!
1 Read the first part of the blog. Are the statements are true (T)
or false (F)?
1 The writer applied for work at the weekends.
2 She thinks she might get the job.
3 She babysits for her brother and sister.
4 She has a lot of experience with children.
5 The Play Centre sent her an email.
6 This will be her first interview.
7 She thinks there will be some questions about her reasons for wanting
the job.
8 She thinks the clothes she wears will be important.
9 The writer’s mother works as a teacher.
10 She thinks her excitement will stop her sleeping.
MARK _/10

2 Read the second part. Choose the correct alternatives.

1 The writer ___. a slept well b slept badly
2 She had some tests ___. a in science b in two subjects
3 She went to the interview instead of ___.
a going out with friends b doing sport
4 She went to the interview ___. a by bus b by car
5 Her mum wanted ___. a to go for a coffee b to go in with her
6 The writer went into the interview room ___.
a after a while b immediately
7 She saw another applicant who ___.
a was quite angry b wasn’t very happy
8 When she went in for her interview the writer was feeling ___.
a excited b worried
9 The people who interviewed her ___.
a were friendly b asked difficult questions
10 She got the results of the interview ___.
a the next day b a few days later
MARK _/10
TOTAL _/20
UNIT 5 Reading test
1 Read the text and answer the questions.
The 1p project
It started with a one penny coin. And who knows where it will end? Last
December, Luke Seall from Brighton, England, had a very imaginative idea. He
decided to start the New Year with a special project. He wanted to see what he
could earn with 1p in twelve months!
Luke’s first rule is that, apart from the 1p, he won’t put any more money of his
own into the project. His second rule is that he can do anything legal to make
more money with this investment of one penny. His third rule is – he won’t
accept any donations. So why has Luke started such an unusual project? He
says that he is doing this project for fun and because of curiosity. He also says
that when he was young his father used to tell him: Look after the pennies and
the pounds will look after themselves. It will be interesting to see how many
pounds Luke can make from his penny!
People can follow Luke’s progress on his website and so far it has been a very
interesting couple of months! He started with one penny and now he owns ten
square metres of land in Bulgaria! How on earth did he manage this? Well,
Luke’s project is all about bartering. He first swapped his one penny coin for
three goldfish in a plastic bag. He met someone who was going to give them
away, so Luke gave him the one penny coin and became the proud owner of the
fish! Later he swapped the goldfish for a guitar. The owner had a bad finger and
couldn’t play anymore. It was quite a good guitar and Luke managed to swap
this for a bicycle. Although he wanted to make money in the project by
bartering, Luke had to sell the bicycle for cash – and he received fifty pounds for
it. Not bad when you remember that he started with one penny! Then Luke
looked online to see what he could buy with fifty pounds. Now he had a lot of
visitors to his website and someone offered him a piece of land in Bulgaria. He
didn’t know much about Bulgaria, but he does now. He accepted the offer. The
piece of land is not enormous but it is big enough to put a tent on for a camping
holiday, or to grow some things on, or even to build something on. It is near the
Black Sea and Luke has all the correct papers for it! So he is now a land owner,
and it is only February!
Now Luke is looking for someone who would like to swap something for the land.
Does anyone have any suggestions? If you have, contact Luke on his website.
It’s a great project and it’s amazing to imagine what his one penny will earn by
the end of the year! Well done, Luke! And good luck! We can’t wait until
December 31st. Will Luke be a millionaire? You never know.
1 Write the questions for these answers.
1 ______________________________________________? One penny
2 ___________________________________________? Twelve months
3 ___________________________________________? There are three.
4 __________________________________________________? For fun
5 _____________________________________________? 10m2 of land
6 _______________________________________________? In Bulgaria
7 ____________________________________________? Three goldfish
8 _________________________________________________? A guitar
9 _________________________________________________?A bicycle
10 _____________________________________________? Fifty pounds
11 __________________________________________________? A tent
12 ___________________________________________? December 31st
MARK _/12

2 Answer the questions.

1 What is Luke’s project?
___________________________________________________________
2 What does his father’s saying mean?
___________________________________________________________
3 Why did the guitar owner swap the guitar?
___________________________________________________________
4 Who should contact Luke?
___________________________________________________________
MARK _/8
TOTAL _/20
Unit 6 Reading test
Read the comments on a website and answer the questions.
A
In my opinion it’s completely ridiculous to knock down trees and dig up beautiful
countryside to build a stupid road. The land has been here a lot longer than we
have and we shouldn’t just destroy it so that we can travel faster. I’m definitely
against the project. Is there any organised protest against this plan? If there is,
let me know and I’ll join. We’ve got to stop this.
Julie2, 18.11, Mon. 24 June
B
Yeah, Julie2. I totally agree. We’ve got enough roads in this area. We don’t need
any more. I’m also thinking about all the birds and animals that live in this
woodland. Where will they go? I’ve heard that there are going to be some
marches against the road. Does anyone know when?
Markyboy, 18.19, Mon. 24 June
C
We’ve got to be realistic. Our society is progressing. We need to progress too.
Have you been on the roads recently? In the rush hour the main road from
Tarnham to Hamford is one long traffic jam. It’s terrible for motorists. This new
road will mean that driving between the towns is much easier. We’ve got more
cars these days. We need more roads. I’m sure Markyboy wants a car when he’s
eighteen, doesn’t he? He’ll change his opinions then.
Trentmate, 19.37, Mon. 24 June
D
I’m with Markyboy and Julie2 on this. Yeah – we need more roads, but not
through this beautiful area. There are much better places to build a road. We
should look at all the options. I’ve heard about a march too. It’s on Saturday in
Tarnham. It starts outside the town hall at 2.30. See you there, folks!
Breezy, 20.23, Mon. 24 June
E
Thanks, Breezy. I’ll be there. And a message for TrentMate: No, I don’t want a
car when I’m eighteen. I walk places or take the bus or train. I don’t want to put
any more pollution in the atmosphere. If everyone did the same, the world
would be a much better place. I get the idea that you drive a fast car and don’t
worry too much about the environment. Am I right?
Markyboy, 10.43, Tue. 25 June
F
Good for you, Markyboy. I’ll be at the march too. I’m sure we can stop this. A lot
of my mates will come too. I don’t think we’ll see you there, TrentMate, will we?
Julie2, 12.15, Tue. 25 June
G
Nope – I’ll be in my Mercedes! You lot have got to think about the real world!
Seriously, people from Tarnham have to commute to Hamford. People can’t all
live in Hamford, can they? So they have to drive there. The trains are slow and
often cancelled. And when you get on a train they’re so crowded you have to
stand up all the time. It’s not a real alternative, is it? Not for regular commuters.
Get real, guys! This road is going to be built whether you march or not. I’d go
and watch a football match or something on Saturday instead. But if you go,
don’t forget your umbrellas. It’s going to rain all day on Saturday. Have fun!
TrentMate, 13.56, Tue. 25 June
1 Which comment(s) A–G
1 ... agrees with two other people? ___
2 ... answer a question? ___ ___ ___
3 ... mention public transport? ___ ___
4 ... opposes the march? ___
5 ... says that this road is not the best choice? ___
6 ... is concerned about wildlife? ___
7 ... talk about people travelling to work? ___ ___
8 ... thinks the plan to build a road is silly? ___
9 ... talk about the reasons for building a new road? ___ ___
10 ...mentions the weather? ___
MARK _/14

2 Complete the sentences with the correct words.

1 Julie2 says that the land is ________ than we are.
2 Markyboy wants to know ________ and ________ the march will be.
3 TrentMate is concerned about ________.
4 Markyboy thinks his actions help the ________.
5 Julie2 is also going to contact her ________.
6 TrentMate thinks that trains are often too ________.
MARK _/6 TOTAL _/20