ENGLISH TEST

th

8 Grade (Level 4)

March 2012

Name: ____________________________________________________ Data: ___ /____ /____

Read the following text carefully:

10

15

20

25

Nowadays many people speak about television: some say its doing
a lot of harm; others say nobody makes you watch TV. Everybody agrees TV
offers you a great amount of information. On the other hand some people
think it shows too much violence. Without doubt TV has got advantages and
disadvantages.
Television gives wonderful possibilities for education. Besides,
there is a considerable variety of programmes. We can choose what we
want to see. It brings the world to our living room. We see people in our
country and in other lands, and learn their customs, occupations, opinions
and problems.
We become better informed by watching documentaries, science
programmes, discussions and by learning about the most important
economic, social and political issues of the day. We see great events which
will be history. We can see famous people.
So, television has many advantages, but there are bad aspects too.
Some pupils do their homework in front of the television screen. Others do
it in a hurry so they can watch television. In either case, the quality of the
work is affected. Some pupils are so attracted by television that they do not
do their homework at all.
Some children have made watching TV their main leisure activity
and they are not enriching their personalities by developing hobbies and
belonging to clubs. Television may lead to poor health, through rushed
meals, lack of sleep, lack of exercise and eyestrain. Many children no longer
read books. This will seriously affect their performance in higher forms, for
reading is the key to all higher study, and needs constant practice.
As for me, television enriches our intellect, gives us opportunities to
see the best actors and performances, to hear the latest news, to listen to
political discussions. Thats why I believe TVs positive aspects are stronger
than the negative ones. In conclusion TV is a great force in the world.

I
A. Find evidence in the text of the following statements:
1. People have different opinion about TV.
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
2. We learn a lot about other nations, their people and traditions.
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
3. TV affects students work.
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
4. TV leads to poor reading habits.
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
5. The author thinks that TV has many people more advantages than disadvantages.
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
B. Find the words in the text that mean exactly the same as:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Damage
Provides
Traditions
Students
Improving
Dangerously

C. Say what these words refer to according to the text:

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

it (line 1)
their (line 16)
they (line 21)
this (line 24)
I (line 28)

D. Answer the following questions:

1. Why is TV both a source of information and education?
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
2. What are the negative aspects of TV on children and youngsters?
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________

3. How does television affect peoples health?

_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
4. Give the text a title. Justify the reasons of your choice very briefly.
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
II
A. Fill-in the gaps using the correct verb tense of the verbs in brackets.
1. Television ______________________ (already/to become) a very popular form of
entertainment.
2. TV ________________________ (to get) more and more interactive during the
next years.
3. Nowadays TV ________________________ (to provide) enormous educational
possibilities.
4. At the moment they ____________________________ (to broadcast) an
interesting documentary on wild life.
5. Before the invention of TV life __________________________ (not to be) so
interesting.
6. ____________________________ (you/to enjoy) watching science programmes?
7. They still _______________________________ (not to visit) a TV station.
8. We __________________________________ (to watch) an excellent film.
B. Complete these Conditional Sentences (Types I and II):
1. If parents controlled the time their children spend in front of TV, children
_________________________ (not to watch) so much violence.
2. If she _______________________ (to want) to become TV newsreader, hell have
to study Journalism.
3. I _______________________ (to buy) a new TV set if I spare enough money.
4. We would visit a TV station if we ________________________ (to get) the
opportunity to do it.
5. If people ___________________________ (not to spend) so many hours in front of
the telly, families would communicate much more.
6. Children __________________________ (not to read) so often if they choose TV
as their favourite hobby.

C. Rewrite these sentences into the Passive Voice:

1. Television will affect students performance at school.
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
2. The BBC is transmitting an excellent documentary on wild life.
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
3. Some films show too much violence.
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
4. People can spend many hours in front of TV.
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
5. Yesterday the Skynews broadcast the weather report.
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
6. Someone has informed them than an interesting programme was on TV.
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
III
TV is a great force in the world.
Comment on the statement focusing the advantages and disadvantages of TV according to
your personal point of view. (80-100 words)
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________

GOOD WORK!

ENGLISH GRAMMAR TEST

8th Grade (Level 4)
Name: _______________________________________________________________________
A. Make sentences using the Present Perfect:
1. Just / I / (to buy) / car / new / a.
_______________________________________________________________________
2. (to go) / in Brazil / recently / to Rio de Janeiro / they.
_______________________________________________________________________
3. Since / she / in Scotland / (to live) / 1992.
_______________________________________________________________________
4. Yet / (not to see) / that film / he.
_______________________________________________________________________
5. Snowboarding / you / (to practice) / ever ?
_______________________________________________________________________
6. (not to do) / hang-gliding / they / still.
_______________________________________________________________________
7. For / she / for her flight / 3 hours / (to wait).
_______________________________________________________________________
8. Never / we / (to try) / sky diving.
_______________________________________________________________________
B. Complete the following sentences using the correct verb tense:
1. Last month they _____________________ (to go) to London but they
_____________________ (not to visit) the Buckingham Palace.
2. Next decade young people _________________________ (to find) new extreme
sports so they ________________________ (not to get) bored.
3. Many extreme sports ________________________ (to involve) high risk but
youngsters _________________________ (not to think) about it.
4. He ______________________________ (recently / to be) at the Rocky Mountains.
5. She __________________________ (to need) some strength to practice
windsurfing.
6. They ________________________ (to become) the best BMX racers ever.
7. What ________________ (to be) your favourite extreme sports?

C. Complete these sentences using the or a/an. If no word is necessary use (-).
1. Where did you have _________ lunch? Did you go to ________ school canteen or
to _________ restaurant?
2. It was _______ best holidays Ive ever had. I went to __________ Nature Reserve
in ____________ South Africa.
3. Yesterday I watched ________ extraordinary documentary on _________ BBC
about _______ London.
4. Peru is _______ country in __________ South America. _________ capital is Lima.
D. Fill-in the blanks with the correct verb tense of the following Conditional sentences
(types I and II):
1. I _________________ (to travel) across Europe if I earned a lot of money.
2. If you visit Australia, you _________________ (to find) excellent landscapes.
3. She ______________________ (not to go) on holidays abroad if she spends too
much money during the year.
4. If she ____________________ (to go) to Switzerland she would try snowboarding.
5. They would visit Hawaii this Summer if it ___________________ (not to be) for
that terrible storm.
6. He will never try bungee jumping if he _______________ (to get) so frightened.
7. If he ___________________ (not to practice) hard enough, he wont be ready for
the European BMX Championship.
8. If they ____________________ (not to prepare) their Summer holidays in time,
they wouldnt get any hotel vacancies.

GOOD WORK!