Unit 1
Before You Read
Before you read a text, you
should look at the title and
the pictures and think about
what you know about the
topic. These questions will
help you prepare to read
the text on this page.
How do you study for tests
and exams?
What do you do to study?
When do you begin to study?
Unit Vocabulary
These are new words you
will find in the readings. As
you read, underline them or
highlight them so you can
find them again. Don’t
worry if you don’t know
them. Try to guess their
meanings while you read.
Then, do the Meaning
from Context (Exercise
1.3). Try to learn these
words. You will see them
again!
activity
diagram
improve
measure
occupation
reasonable
regularly
review
management
variety
How to Study for a Test
1 We all have exams at some time in our lives. Most people
regularly take tests in school. These tests measure how much
we have learned. Some people take a test or exam to enter
university. These tests measure how much we know. There are
also tests for jobs and occupations. With so many tests, it’s
clear to see that studying for exams is very important!
However, many people do not know the best way to study for
tests and exams. In this article, we will look at a few ways to
improve your scores on any test or exam.
2 The first thing you need to think about when you are studying
for a test or exam is time management. You need to plan your
study time. You can’t begin to study right before an important
exam. Research shows that students who review a lot of
information right before an exam do not remember as much as
students who review regularly for several weeks before the
exam. The first step is to make a study plan. Decide how much
you need to study and plan out your weekly schedule. Be
reasonable. A difficult plan will be harder to follow. For
example, if you plan to study for 5 hours a day, you will
probably not follow your plan.
3 Another thing you must do is find the best materials and
resources to review for your test or exam. If the exam is for a
class, you will want to take good notes. Each day, write down
what your teacher says. You don’t have to write every word.
The important thing is to record the main ideas and the
important details that could be on the test. Generally, the
words that the teacher writes on the board are probably
important. In addition, save all the papers you receive in class.
Of course you will also use your textbook, but you shouldn’t
stop there. You can find other books on the subject in a library
or bookshop. Also, you should look on the internet for even
more information about the subject. A variety of materials will
help you with the next important part of studying for an exam:
a variety of activities.
4 Doing a variety of activities is the best way to really learn and
remember information for an exam. Don’t simply read the
information again and again. This is a mistake, because you
don’t use the information, you just see it. Instead, make sure
that you are asking your brain a question. Make flashcards from
vocabulary, or quiz yourself. Draw diagrams, timelines, or
pictures to help you understand and remember. Ask your
teacher for extra copies of the worksheets you use in class.
Then, do them again and see if your score improves. Use your
notes, textbook, and other resources. It sometimes helps to
study with a friend. You can ask each other questions and quiz
each other about the information.
5 There are many other ways to study for an exam. Try to use
the advice in this article, but your teachers and friends may
have other ideas. Ask them how they review for exams and see
if they have any advice. The important thing is to find what
works for you. Good luck on all your tests!
Reading Skill: Paragraph Topic Finding the
1.1 Topic of a
What is each paragraph about? Match the topic to the paragraph Paragraph
number. You will have one topic leftover.
The topic paragraph is
Topics often found in the first
Paragraph 2 a. Doing many different things sentence of the
Paragraph 3 b. Getting advice from other people paragraph. However, you
should read carefully to
Paragraph 4 c. Reading information again and again
make
Paragraph 5 d. Finding the best materials to help you sure.
e. Managing your time CEPA Tip!

Noticing the Grammar: Imperatives 1.2

We use imperatives to tell people what to do. Read the imperative sentences below. Which ones
does Text 1 tell us to do? Tick Y for Yes or N for No. The first one is done for you.
Y N
1 Study in the mornings. √
2 Think about time management.
3 Review regularly several weeks before the exam.
4 Make a study plan.
5 Copy your notes.
6 Do not study from your notes.
7 Find the best materials and resources to review for your exam.
8 Write down every word your teacher says.
9 Only use your textbook to study.
10 Use the internet to study for your tests.
11 Do a variety of activities.
12 Read the information again and again.
13 Ask your teacher for extra copies of worksheets.
14 Study with a friend.
15 Find out what works for you.

Unit Vocabulary: Meaning from Context 1.3

First, find the word in the text. Look carefully at the sentence. Choose the definition that makes
sense. When you have finished, read the text again. Do you understand more this time? The first
one is done for you.

1 activity e a. to find how big or good something is

2 measure b. make something better
3 diagram c. job
4 improve d. a picture that helps you understand
5 occupation e. something you do

6 reasonable a. planning your activities

7 regularly b. many different things
8 review c. to study or look at something again
9 time management d. every day, every hour, every week, etc.
10 variety e. not too much or too little

Buy a Dictionary!
Buying your own dictionary will not only help you study for the CEPA, but it will
also help you with your English language study for the rest of your life. Choose CEPA Tip!
your dictionary carefully. A “learner dictionary” will often be English-English, with
simple definitions. This will help you think in English. If you need to, choose an
English-Arabic dictionary. You may also need an Arabic-English dictionary.
Unit Vocabulary: Vocabulary in Context 1.4
Complete the sentences below with Unit Vocabulary words from the box. You may use some of them
more than once

activity occupation variety

measure reasonable improve
diagram regularly review
management

1 I like to do a ____________ of things in my free time.

2 It is not ______________ to plan to study for five hours every day.
3 My sister can’t come to the party—she has to ______________ her notes for an exam.
4 Physical __________ is very important for your health.
5 They go to the market ______________. You can see them there every morning.
6 You can use a scale to ______________ your weight.
7 I really need to improve my time-____________ skills. I am always late.
8 She does a lot of things to ______________ her English: reading books, studying
vocabulary, and more.
9 We did a really fun ______________ in class today!
10 Sometimes, my teacher draws a __________ to explain a grammar point.
11 I don’t know what ______________ I want yet. I think I might want to be a doctor or
a teacher.
12 Perhaps I will study hotel ______________ instead.

Making Flashcards
Look on the CEPA website at http://www.napo.ae/cepa/forstudents.html and find the file that says
Flashcards. Print the file. Copy the English meanings from 1.3 onto the flashcards. Now, look up the
words in your Arabic dictionary, and write the Arabic meanings. Write the POS on the flashcards
(Noun, Verb, Adjective, Adverb…). When you learn a new word, make your own flashcards. Cut
them up and put them in your school bag. You can review your flashcards while you are on the bus.

English Meaning: Study

word
POS:
Arabic Meaning:
Tip!

What are Word Families?

You can think of word families as you do human families. Human families have many parts: a
mother, a father, sisters, brothers, uncles, aunts, cousins, etc. In word families, there are many
parts of speech. Think about the word “act”. It is a verb. It means “to do something”. There are a
lot of other words in its word family. An activity is something you do. Action has a similar
meaning. Act is also a noun. To activate is to make something work. If someone is active, that
means she does a lot of things. See? You can learn many related words from just one vocabulary
word. You will store this information in a Word Families Chart in Exercise 1.5.

Noun Verb Adjective Adverb

activity
act
action active actively
activate
act
Unit Vocabulary: Word Families Chart 1.5
Complete the Word Families Chart. You may use a dictionary. Some word families have more than
one noun or more than one adjective. The first one has been done for you.
act review regulation improvement manage
reasonably active measurement reason measure
various improved actively variable vary
occupy occupied manager regulate regular

Noun Verb Adjective Adverb

activity 1 act 2 active 3 actively
4 improve 5
occupation 6 7
8 reasonable 9
10 11 12 regularly
13 review
management
15
14

variety 16 17

18 19 measured

Unit Vocabulary: Word Families 1.6 Watch the Suffix!1.7

Choose the correct form of the word to go in each sentence. A suffix is the last part of a
word. Each of the suffixes in the
1 She is a ____ woman. box gives you a clue about the
a. reason b. reasonable c. reasonably part of speech of the unit
vocabulary words. Organize the
2 I see a lot of ____ in her work. suffixes.

a. improvement b. improve c. improved -tive -able -er

-ly -ment -tion
3 This room is ____ right now.
-ate -ious
a. occupation b. occupy c. occupied
1 Verb
4 She is ____ trying to improve her English.
a. activity b. active c. actively 2 Noun

3 Adjective
5 He is a ____ customer.
a. regulate b. regular c. regularly 4 Adverb

6 I will call the ____. He knows what to do.

Now write the part of speech of
a. manager b. management c. manage these words, then look up their
meaning.
7 Hamza enjoys watching ____ shows on television. 5 curious
a. variable b. vary c. various 6 edible
8 In sentences 1-7, what part of speech usually comes after 7 accommodation
“a” and before a noun? _______________________ 8 impersonate
9 contentment
9 What part of speech usually comes after “the”? __________
Grammar Review: Question Words 1.8 Go to the website!
Match the question word to the possible answer. The NAPO website has a lot of
information about the CEPA exam,
1 Who a. a number
including practice tests, writing
2 What b. a person
prompts, rules, and descriptions of
3 Why c. a place
the test.
4 Where d. a way
Go to: www.napo.ae/cepa
5 When e. a thing
6 How f. a time Click on the “For Students” link for
7 How many g. a reason directions to websites with English
language activities.

Grammar Practice: Question Words 1.9

Complete each question with the correct question word and match the question with the answer.
The first one is done for you.

1 Who can give you advice

f a. Several weeks before the exam.
on how to prepare for an exam?

2 __________ do you like to study? b. Make a study plan.

3 __________ is the first step in c. I have a desk in my room so I usually

preparing for an exam? study there.

4 __________ should you take d. Because you are not doing anything with
notes? the information.

5 __________ is it a mistake to read e. It’s a good idea to do a variety of

the information again and again? activities.

6 __________ should you start

f. Your teacher and your friends.
studying for an exam?

7 __________ activities should you g. Write down the most important ideas
do to prepare for an exam? and the details that could be on the test.

A Little Bit Each Day Grammar Practice: 1.10

The best way to learn grammar
and vocabulary for any exam is
to study a little bit each day
and review often. Don’t wait
until the week before the test
to begin reviewing.
To prepare for the CEPA exam,
try to do one unit of this book
per week. Don’t try to do the
whole book right away.
Use your flashcards a little bit
each day.
Plan your study time using the
chart on the next page.
Study
Tip!
Subject-Verb Agreement
Choose the sentence with correct subject-verb agreement.
1 a. I do a variety of activities.
b. I does a variety of activities.
c. I am do a variety of activities.
2 a. He like to study outside.
b. He likes to study outside.
c. He’s like to study outside.
3 a. She always ask her teacher for help.
b. She always asks her teacher for help.
c. She’s always ask her teacher for help.
4 a. It a mistake.
b. It’s a mistake.
c. It are a mistake.
5 a. There is thirty students in my class.
b. There be thirty students in my class.
c. There are thirty students in my class.
Make a study plan!
Use the chart below to make yourself a study plan. Add the times for your classes, homework and
all the things you do regularly. Be reasonable. Plan time to rest and socialize with your friends and
family. You can change the times if you need to, but you should start with a plan.
Saturday
Friday
Thursday
Wednesday
Tuesday
Monday
Sunday

9:00-10:00

9:00-10:00
8:00-9:00

1:00-2:00

2:00-3:00

3:00-4:00

4:00-5:00

5:00-6:00

6:00-7:00

7:00-8:00

8:00-9:00
10-11:00

11-12:00

12-1:00
Time
Grammar Focus: Pronouns 1.11
Complete the table with the correct pronoun.

Female Male
Subject 1 he
Object her 2
Possessive adjective 3 his
Possessive pronoun hers 4

Grammar Practice 1.12

Now, look at the pictures of the two people and complete the sentences with the correct pronoun or
adjective.

1 _____________ wears glasses.

2 _____________ is studying outside.

3 _____________ is studying in a library

4 _____________ is in high school.

5 _____________ is in primary school.

6 _____________ computer is grey, but (7) _____________ is black.

8 _____________ shirt is yellow, but (9)_____________ is blue.

10 _____________ is younger than (11) _____________.

Use Your Grammar!

When you write practice essays in this book, try to use the grammar and CEPA Tip!
vocabulary that you have you have practiced. This way, you will make sure you
remember what you have practiced, and you will write better essays.

Words for Writing 1.13

You need to know these words to do the writing activities in this book. Try to guess the definitions
and check your answers. If you still do not understand the words, use your dictionary.

1 Essay a. what you think about something

2 Paragraph b. a piece of writing
3 Introduction c. the last paragraph of an essay
4 Conclusion d. a part of an essay
5 Support e. the first paragraph of an essay
6 Opinion f. the reasons for your opinion
Writing Task: Practice 1.14
Each CEPA essay should have 4-5 paragraphs: an introduction, 2-3 support paragraphs and a
conclusion. Can you work out which paragraph each of the sentences below belong to. Copy them
under the paragraph name.
Idea Box
a. The third reason I feel this way is that tests are a lot of work for teachers.
b. This is why I think students have too many tests.
c. The second reason for my opinion is that tests cause a lot of stress for students.
d. First, there are many other ways to measure students’ progress.
e. I agree with the people who think that students have too many tests.

1 Introduction:

2 Support Paragraph A:

3 Support Paragraph B:

4 Support Paragraph C:

5 Conclusion:

Writing Task: Essay

Read the essay prompt below. Plan your essay using the Essay Plan. You may support your opinion
using some of the ideas given, but see if you can think of other ideas too. You may use the ideas
and sentences from the Idea Box above if you wish.

When you have finished planning, write your essay on the next page.

ESSAY PROMPT
Some people believe that tests are important to measure students’ progress. Other people think
that students have too many tests.
Which group do you agree with? Explain why.
You could support your opinion by writing about:
 people who are good/bad at taking tests
 tests and stress
 the high number of students in classes
 comparing students

Essay Plan

1 Introduction:

2 Support Paragraph A:

3 Support Paragraph B:

4 Support Paragraph C:

5 Conclusion:
Writing Task: Essay
 Writing Task: Reflection 1.15
Here is a sample essay. Label the paragraphs with the words in the box.

a. Introduction
b. Conclusion
c. Support Paragraphs
d. Opinion

It’s true that some people think that

students have too many tests. However, I believe 2.
1. that tests are the best way to measure students’
progress. I have several reasons for my opinion.
First of all, tests are the fairest way to
evaluate students. Everyone in a class takes the
same test. This way, every student has the same
chance to succeed. A student’s mark on a test
only shows how well she did, not how much the
teacher likes her.
Secondly, there are usually many students
in a class. It takes a long time for a students to do
projects. It also takes a long time for teachers to
4.
mark projects. Teachers can mark many tests in a
short amount of time. Tests are much better when
there are many students.
My third reason is that tests are a good way
to compare students. When every student takes the
same test, it’s easy to see which students know the
information and which students need more help.
It’s also easy to see which students are ready for
university and which students need more English.
In conclusion, I think tests are the best way
to measure students’ abilities. They may not be 3.
perfect, but they are the best way we have.

Writing Task: Reflection

Now label your essay. Do you have all the parts? What do you need to add?

a. Introduction
b. Conclusion
c. Support Paragraphs
d. Opinion

Now read the essay above. Did you write some of the same ideas? Did you write some different
ideas?

Always Check Your Essay

CEPA Tip! When you have finished writing an essay, always re-read it. You should check
that you have an introduction, at least two support paragraphs, and a conclusion.
If the essay asks for your opinion, make sure that you have stated it clearly.
You should also check to see if you have made any grammar or spelling mistakes.
If you have, correct them.