INITIAL TEST

Clasa a X- a
Varianta B

I Read the following article and choose the correct answers.

Photoshopping:
how much is too much?
Today, it is normal for magazines to show pictures of models and celebrities that have been
‘Photoshopped’. This means that the original photos have been changed on a computer using the
Photoshop software to make them look better. The beautiful people in the photographs have
perfect skin, no fat on their stomachs, and no wrinkles on their faces. They look so perfect and
beautiful that what we see can’t be real. But some publishers and advertisers insist that
Photoshopping is necessary so that celebrities and models always look their best.
On the other hand, health organizations have warned that digitally altering photographs may be
dangerous. They say Photoshopped images are not realistic, and may have a negative effect on
people. Psychologists agree with the health organizations. They say some people try so hard to
look like the pictures in magazines that they get ill. In some cases, they want to be as slim as the
models and so they stop eating properly. When they realize that it is impossible to look so good,
they get depressed. This doesn’t only happen to young girls but it can happen to people of all
ages. So what can be done to keep everybody happy? Two researchers at Dartmouth University
in New Hampshire, USA, think they have found the answer.
Professor Hany Farid and Doctor Eric Klee have developed a computer program that can detect
how much Photoshopping has been used on an image. Their software gives a rating from 1 to 5
to the image – 1 for a few changes, and 5 for a lot of changes. Farid and Klee’s idea is that
publishers include the rating next to the image. That way, consumers will be able to work out
how realistic the image is.
News of Farid and Klee’s system has come out at the same time as people have started
criticizing the use of Photoshopping. They say that some advertisers are going too far with it.
recently, the actress Rachel Weisz appeared in an advert for an anti-ageing beauty cream in the
UK. In the advert, Ms Weisz looked like a teenager – in fact, she’s in her early forties. There
were a lot of complaints about the image and the advert was eventually banned. Farid and Klee’s
system could solve two problems at the same time. Firstly, it would serve as a kind of health
warning for consumers, and secondly it may stop advertisers from relying on Photoshopping so
much.

1 According to the article, publishers use Photoshopping to make people look .....
 A as good as possible
B as interesting as possible
C as thin as possible

2 The article says that Photoshopped images have a bad effect on .....
A girls of all ages
B young teenagers
C all kinds of people

3 The new program gives a rating of 1 to an image with .....

A no Photoshopping
B a little Photoshopping
C a lot of Photoshopping

4 People complained about the Rachel Weisz advert because .....

A it made her look a lot younger than she is
B it showed the actress as she really is
C it used an image of a different actress

5 The people who will benefit most from the new tool are .....
A advertisers
B consumers
C publishers
5 x 5 = 25p
II Fill in the correct preposition.
1 George is busy .................... his homework right now.
2 Albert Einstein was brilliant .................. physics.
3 Compared .................. winters in Moscow, this isn’t really cold at all.
4 He is very careless .................... his clothes.
5 A policeman arrested the woman ................... stealing from a shop.
5 x 3 = 15p

III Rephrase the following sentences using the words in bold. Use two to five words.
1 She took a month to decorate the flat. HER
It ............................................................................................... to decorate the flat.
2 The lift isn’t working; use the stairs instead. OUT
The lift .............................................................................. ; use the stairs instead.
3 When did Harry give up his job? SINCE
How long ....................................................................................... up his job?
4 The last time he visited them was a year ago. FOR
He ..................................................................................................... a year.
5 He finds driving on the left difficult. USED
He .................................................................................................. on the left.
5 x 3 = 15p

IV. Use the word given in capitals to form a word that fits in each gap.
1 John sounds very .............................. when he shouts and points his finger AGGRESSION
at people like that.
2 Carol has been working as a .................................. for over ten years. LIBRARY
3 You can’t walk in such high shoes. They’re totally ............................. . PRACTICAL
4 Emma couldn’t help being ............................ of her friend’s glamorous lifestyle. ENVY
5 Tom likes the car because it is both ............................... and fuel efficient. ATTRACT
5 x 2 = 10p

V You have received an email from your English-speaking friend, Sarah, who wants
information about a summer job. Read Sarah’s email and the notes you have made. Then
Write an email to Sarah using all the notes.
Write your email in 120 – 150 words. 25 p

From Sarah
To Kate
Subject Summer job

Dear Kate,
I’m saving up for a new laptop and I was thinking about getting a summer job. I know
you worked at a café last year and enjoyed it, so I’d like to ask you some questions.
say where and when
First of all, where was the café and what hours did you work? I’m asking that because
Mum doesn’t really want me to stay out late or work too far from home.
Give opinion
I’d also like to know what you thought about the place. Was it a good café? What
were the customers like? Yes, because
....
Money is important. How much did you earn? Do you think I can get enough to pay
for my laptop? Finally, are there any other good summer jobs that you can
recommend? Suggest ...
Write back soon. It’s almost summer!
Sarah
 BAREM DE CORECTARE

I 1 A 2 C 3 B 4 A 5 B

II 1 with 2 at 3 to 4 about/with 5 for

III 1 took her a month 2 is out of order 3 is it since Harry gave

4 has not visited them for 5 is not used to driving

IV 1 aggressive 2 librarian 3 impractical 4 envious 5 attractive

V 25 points A very positive effect on the target reader. The content is relevant and the topic is fully
developed. Information and ideas are skilfully organised through a range of cohesive devices. A wide
range of complex structures and vocabulary is used effectively. Errors are minimal. Register and format
are consistently appropriate to the purpose of the task and the audience.
20 points
A positive effect on the target reader. The content is relevant and the topic is developed. Information and
ideas are clearly organised through the use of a variety of cohesive devices. A good range of complex
structures and vocabulary is used. Some errors may occur with vocabulary and when complex language is
attempted, but these do not cause difficulty for the reader.Register and format are usually appropriate to
the purpose of the task and the audience.
15 points
A satisfactory effect on the target reader. The content is relevant with some development of the topic.
Information and ideas are generally organised logically, though cohesive devices may not always be used
appropriately. A satisfactory range of structures and vocabulary is used, though word choice may lack
precision. Errors which do occur not cause difficulty for the reader.Register and format are reasonably
appropriate to the purpose of the task and the audience
10 points
A negative effect on the target reader. The content is not always relevant. Information and ideas are
inadequately organised and sometimes incoherent , with inaccurate use of cohesive devices . The range of
structures and vocabulary is limited and/or repetitive, and errors may be basic or cause difficulty for the
reader. Register and format are sometimes inappropriate to the purpose of the task and the audience
5 points
A very negative effect on the target reader. The content is often irrelevant. Information and ideas are
poorly organised and often incoherent and there is minimal use of cohesive devices . The range of
structures and vocabulary is severly limited, and errors frequently cause considerable difficulty for the
reader. Register and format are often inappropriate to the purpose of the task and the audience
 MODEL ANSWER

Dear Sarah,
I’ve just got your email asking me about last summer at the café.
of course I can give you some information.
The café was called The Two Sugars. It’s in the centre of town not
far from your house. I worked weekday evenings from 6 to 10 and
every Saturday from 9 to 5.
It was an excellent café with a lovely warm atmosphere. Most
customers were very friendly, but there were one or two that were a
bit rude.
You don’t get a lot of money per hour, but you make a lot more
from customer’s tips. If you work hard, you should be able to afford
your laptop. I bought a bike from the money I earned last year!
I know you love swimming, so you could apply for a job at the
local swimming pool if you don’t like the café.
Tell me what you decide.

Kate