Rogozin J.H.

S Kiryat Ata Version B

Name ______________________ Class _____
Comparative Test
9th Grade B-1 Levels - May 2011
Part I - READING COMPREHENSION - IS SEEING BELIEVING?
"Seeing is believing" is a common expression in English: it means that we can
believe what we see. But how true is this? Can we trust our eyes alone?
Have you ever been to a magic show? A magician performs tricks and we
seldom understand how they have been done, even if we have been watching
5. carefully and we have been following each logical (‫ ) הגיוני‬step of the trick.
Such tricks played on our eyes are called " optical illusions", and they are not only
seen in magic shows. An optical illusion is something which deceives ( ‫ ) מרמה‬our eyes and
brain. In other words, it looks as though we see something different from what it really is. In
fact, it is a trick played on our eyes.
10. Optical illusions are used by the magicians in their tricks to make us believe that what
we see is reality. There are many different kinds of optical illusions.
One kind of optical illusion is a mirage. This is the strange effect of climatic conditions,
in which objects appear which are not really there. For example, there are stories of desert
travelers who have seen water in the distance, when in reality there hasn't
15. been any.
Many things seem different when they are seen from an unusual viewpoint (‫נקודת‬
‫)מבט‬. For example, if you put the lower half of a pencil into a glass of water and look through
the sides of the glass, the pencil looks crooked ((‫ עקום‬or broken. This optical illusion is
caused because light passes through air and water at different speeds.
20. Also, if an everyday object is viewed under a microscope, it may look so different that
it is not obvious what it is.
Camouflage also makes things look different, or rather makes them difficult to see. It
is the way that the color or the shape of something makes it blend into its surroundings.
Many animals are protected in nature because they are camouflaged by their color.
25. Soldiers also camouflage themselves by wearing colors similar to their surroundings ((‫סביבה‬.
Although there are several ways of seeing things, there is no doubt that human beings
prefer to see things that we can understand easily. Disorder seems illogical to our brains,
and if what we see gives our brains only limited information, we will fill in the missing
details ourselves so that we see something that is organized and which we can
30. understand.
Comparative Test 2010 - 9th Grade B-1Levels Version B

So, is seeing believing? Can we always believe what we see? Sometimes we can and
sometimes we can't, but we usually enjoy the challenge of trying to find out.

A. Circle the correct answer to complete each sentence: (4X3= 12 points)

1. "Seeing is believing"…
a. is only true when discussing optical illusions.
b. has to do with how well a person can see.
c. is a common expression in English .

2. Putting pencil in water is an example of …

a. how to demonstrate an optical illusion.
b. how to use camouflage.
c. how to break a pencil.

3. Human beings…
a. can't understand optical illusions.
b. don't see details clearly.
c. look for organization and logic in what they see .

4. Optical illusions…
a. are tricks played on our eyes.
b. were developed by magicians.
c. are a picture of reality.
B. Complete the sentences: (3X4= 12 points)
1. Magicians use optical illusions in order to __________________________________.

2. Animals camouflage themselves in order to ________________________________.

3. In the desert people can see __________________________________________.

C. Answer the following questions based on the passage: (3X4= 12 points)

1. What do you really see when we see magic tricks? (lines 5-10 ) (4 points)

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

2. Find an example or an explanation to the optical illusion according to the text?

(lines 5 - 26) (4 X2 = 8 points)

Type of optical illusion Example / Explanation

An unusual view point

Under a microscope

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Comparative Test 2010 - 9th Grade B-1Levels Version B

A mirage

Camouflage
D. Find the words or phrases in the passage that have a similar meaning .
(5X2= 10 points)
1. far away place , not close (lines 10-15) ______________________
2. very clear (lines 20-25) ______________________
3. small bits of information (lines 25-30) __________________
4. the part of the body that we use for thinking (lines 5-10) ______________________
5. does, makes (lines 1-5) ____________________

Part II - Language
E. Choose the right word to complete the sentence. (2X10= 20 points)

1. I am not a ( doubtful / doubting) person but I don't trust her new boyfriend. I (doubt
/ doubted) him the first time I saw him and my (doubts / doubtable) proved to be
justified when I met an old friend who told me that he had seen that man with another
girl.
2. Human beings should know their ( limitations / limitable) and not try to do dangerous
things. Our ability to function under stress is quite ( limited / limitations) Therefore we
should (limited / limit) ourselves only to our ability and not push ourselves to the
(limit / limiting ).
3. Some teenagers don't think of the dangerous (effect / affect) of using drugs they do
not realize that using drugs (.affects / effected) their thinking and their personality. It
doesn't matter what their parents tell them to do it is never (effectively / effective).

F. Fill in the missing words in 7 of the following sentences . Use the bank below .
(7X1= 7 points)
1. Mr. Levi _________________ me again and I lost all my money. I saw him from a
_____________________, that's why I didn't recognize him.
2. It was a great _____________________ to work with you.
3. I can't ___________________ her again. She lied to me more than once.
4. Sharon and Gal didn't have anything in ____________________, so they decided to
separate.
5. Please drive ___________________. The road is very slippery.
6. The policeman _________________ into the crowd, so nobody could recognize him.
7. The children enjoyed the __________________ tricks that the
________________ did during their birthday.
8. You can find more __________________ on our internet site.

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Comparative Test 2010 - 9th Grade B-1Levels Version B

challenge , tricks, carefully, careful , trust, trusting , blended,

distance, magician, magic, deceived, common, information, optical

G.
Choose /Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verb
{All tenses} (10X2= 20)
a power cut. The theater was completely Dana and I {were / have been / are}

dark. A few kids __________________ friends since we were children. We love

{begin} to scream, and we all felt a little to go to the cinema. I see at least one

uneasy. Then a young man came walking movie a week. My husband usually

down the aisle. He _________________ _____________________ {join} me

{hold} a small flashlight in his hand. He but if he doesn't, I ask Dana to join me.

___________________ {show} us the Last week I __________________

way out and __________________ {go} to the movies with my friend Dana.

{promise} us that we could As we ___________________ {sit} in

__________________ {use} the tickets the movie theater, enjoying ourselves,

on another day. suddenly there _______________ {be}

H. Complete the following sentences. (7 points)

1. If I have some time off work, _________________________________________

__________________________________________________________. (3 points)

2.I have never _________________________________________________.(2 points)

3. Steve passed his driving test, so ________________________________________

__________________________________________________________.(2 points)

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Comparative Test 2010 - 9th Grade B-1Levels Version B

A. Circle the correct answer to complete each sentence: (4X3= 12 points)

1. "Seeing is believing"…
a. is only true when discussing optical illusions.
b. has to do with how well a person can see.
c. is a common expression in English .

2. Putting pencil in water is an example of …

a. how to demonstrate an optical illusion.
b. how to use camouflage.
c. how to break a pencil.

3. Human beings…
a. can't understand optical illusions.
b. don't see details clearly.
c. look for organization and logic in what they see .

4. Optical illusions…
a. are tricks played on our eyes.
b. were developed by magicians.
c. are a picture of reality.

B. Complete the sentences: (3X4= 12 points)

1. Magicians use optical illusions in order to play a trick on our eyes/ deceive our
eyes__.
2. Animals camouflage themselves in order to ______ protect themselves in nature
3. In the desert people can see __________objects which aren't really there /
water in the distance._______.
C. Answer the following questions based on the passage: (3X4= 12 points)

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Comparative Test 2010 - 9th Grade B-1Levels Version B

1. What happens when we see magic tricks? (lines 1-10 ) ) (4 points)

___ We see something different from what it really is /

We believe that what we see is reality
2. Complete the chart according to the text? (lines 5-26) (4 X2 = 8 points)

Type of optical illusion Example / Explanation

An unusual view point A pencil in a glass of water / if you put
a …
Under a microscope The object may look so different you can't
tell what the object really is
A mirage A strange effect of climatic conditions
Travelers who see water in the distance
Camouflage Soldiers' uniforms

D. Find the words or phrases in the passage that have a similar meaning .
(5X2= 10 points)
1. far away place , not close (lines 10-15) ______ in the distance
2. very clear (lines 20-25) obvious ___
3. small bits of information (lines 25-30) __-details __
4. the part of the body that we use for thinking (lines 5-10) _____ - brain _____
5. does , makes (lines 1-5) - performs

Part II - Language
E. Choose the right word to complete the sentence. (2X10= 20 points)

1. I am not a (doubtful / doubting / doubts) person but I don't trust her new boyfriend.
I (doubt / doubts / doubted) him the first time I saw him and my (doubting / doubts /
doubtable) proved to be justified when I met an old friend who told me that he had seen
that man with another girl.
2. Human beings should know their (limitations / limitable / limited) and not try to do
dangerous things. Our ability to function under stress is quite (limited / limitation) .
Therefore we should (limitation / limit / limited) ourselves only to our ability and not
push ourselves to the (limit / limited / limiting) .
3. Some teenagers don't think of the dangerous (effect / affect / affection) of using
drugs they do not realize that using drugs (effectively / affects / effected) their
thinking and their personality. It doesn't matter what their parents tell them to do it is
never (effectively / affected / effective).

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Comparative Test 2010 - 9th Grade B-1Levels Version B

F. Fill in the missing words in 7 of the following sentences . Use the bank below .
(7X1= 7 points)
9. Mr. Levi deceived_ me again and I lost all my money. I saw him from a
distance_______, that's why I didn't recognize him.
10. It was a great ___challenge___ to work with you.
11. I can't ____trust___ her again. She lied to me more than once.
12. Sharon and Gal didn't have anything in common_______, so they decided to separate.
13. Please drive ___carefully_____. The road is very slippery.
14. The policeman ____blended__ into the crowd, so nobody could recognize him.
15. The children enjoyed the ___magic____ tricks that the ___magician_____ did
during their birthday.
16. You can find more ___information___ on our internet site.
challenge , tricks, carefully, careful , trust, trusting , blended,

distance, magician, magic , deceived, common, information, optical

G.
Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verb {All tenses} (10X2=
20)
was completely dark. A few kids Dana and I ___have been____{be}
_began___ {begin} to scream, and we all friends since we were children. We love
felt a little uneasy. Then a young came to go to the cinema. I see at least one
walking down the aisle. He ___was movie a week. My husband usually
holding / held_____ {hold} a small _____joins__ {join} me but if he
flashlight in his hand. He doesn't, I ask Dana to join me. Last week
___showed_______{show} us the way I ___went___ {go} to the movies with my
out and ____promised______ {promise} friend Dana. We __were sitting_____
us that we could use the tickets on {sit} in the movie theater, enjoying
another day. ourselves, when suddenly there
___was__ {be} a power cut. The theater

H. Complete the following sentences. (7 points)

1. If I have some time off work, ___(present s. or future_)_________________

______________________________________________________. (3 points)

3.I have never __(present perfect)__________________________.(2 points)

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Comparative Test 2010 - 9th Grade B-1Levels Version B
3. Steve passed his driving test, so ___(modals / present. s. ), _____________

__________________________________________________.(2 points)