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Spotlight 9

Reading Skills

Variant A

 

Task A.   Match the Headings to the paragraphs. There is one heading you don’t need to use.

1. Different from other sports

2. Traditional and new leaders

3. Classes for skaters

4. Necessary equipment

5. Beginning of short track

6. Events on the programme

7. Some rules of short track

8. Short track in the Olympics

A. As the close running is dangerous because of collisions and falls, a hard shell helmet is a must. There are also knee and neck protectors. Some skaters wear goggles to shield their eyes from wind and ice chips. Skin-tight suits reduce wind resistance. Short track boots lace high up and are heavier to help stabilize the foot. Blades are very sharp and asymmetrical so as to make turns almost flat to the ice.

B. Primarily short track was dominated by Canada and the USA. The teams from South Korea, China, Japan joined later, followed by the recent favourites, the Dutch. For a long time Russia could boast of the only bronze Olympic medal in short track. Since the Sochi Olympics the Russian short track team has seriously improved.

C. Nowadays sort track includes eight competitions. These are the same for both men and women: 500 m, 1000 m, 1500 m, 3000 m, and the relay — a race between teams, with each team member in turn running part of the total distance. The last one makes 5000 m for men and 3000 m for women.

D. Short track hasn’t been a Winter Games event for very long. Ice short track was a demonstration sport at the 15th Winter Olympics, held in Calgary (Canada) in 1988. It was upgraded to a full Olympic sport in 1992 at the Albertville Winter Games and has been part of the Winter Olympics since.

E. Short track is a form of ice speed skating. The races last between 40 seconds and two minutes. The skaters compete against the clock and against each other. Unlike in long speed skating with two skaters running at a time, usually between four and six short trackers take part. The rink is the size of an ice hockey rink and gives a shorter track.

F. The sport originated in the USA and Canada at the beginning of the previous century. Meanwhile it was gaining popularity in Great Britain, Japan, France, Belgium, and Australia. The countries competed among themselves some decades before the International Skating Union (ISU) officially launched the sport’s international competitions in 1970s.

G. Disqualifications in short track are unavoidable for many reasons such as two false starts by a skater or not wearing the equipment properly. Skaters mustn’t contact each other with hands. Pushing, blocking and even giving another skater physical assistance is not allowed. Skating outside the designated track is also forbidden.

A	B	C	D	E	F	G

 

Task B.  Read the text and mark the statements True, False or Not stated

Understanding P. L. Travers

The film “Saving Mr. Banks” will hardly make a hit even though grandest Tom Hanks and Emma Thompson starred in it and Paul Giamatti and Colin Farrell co-starred. It’s only for fans of the book and the Hollywood film about Mary Poppins. “Saving Mr. Banks” shows how painful the process of screening the book was.

Walt Disney’s daughters once beg him to make a movie of their favourite book, P. L. Travers’s “Mary Poppins” about a magical strict nurse who always comes to rescue of the Banks family when they are in need for her and looks after their children.

It takes Disney 20 years to persuade Pamela Travers to accept the idea. The humorless snobbish author keeps refusing to hand in her beloved work to the Hollywood machine which will make a musical of it. But for the lack of money Ms. Travers unwillingly agrees and goes to Los Angeles. Assisted by a team of the talented screenwriter, songwriters, etc.,

Disney tries to please her with bright ideas, images and merry tunes that later will gain the Oscar prize. For a long time the writer remains immovable. Ms. Travers hates the animation included in the film and demands that it should be cut out. She considers actress Julie Andrews too pretty and lively to be Mary Poppins, is against certain American words and phrases and newly made up words; dislikes some songs and so on.

It is only when Disney tells Ms. Travers about his own difficult love for his father, that he discovers the roots of understanding the characters of the book. With the help of flashbacks, we see Pamela as an eight-year old child. Her family settle in a shabby house in a remote place in Australia. Her father, Travers Goff, is an irresponsible dreamer and independent idealist, an unsuccessful bank clerk and a heavy drinker. He views the life in poverty as a great adventure and the girl is the only one who’s excited about it. She loves him dearly. However, she looks forward to Aunt Ellie’s arrival. She hopes the aunt will help like a fairy and bring order and discipline to the household. But the aunt’s a bit late. Goff dies soon.

Very slowly Pamela begins to like the production. The film ends with her weeping at the premiere where she comes uninvited due to her earlier objections and attacks. But are these happy tears of gratitude for Disney who understood that Mary Poppins is to save Mr. Banks?

Though “Saving Mr. Banks” is generally historically accurate, the writer later confessed in an interview that the screen version had made her cry out of disapproval and anger. Though she “learned to live with it” and even thought it a good film on its own level, it was not very like her books. In her last will, she ordered that Mary Poppins and any more of her books would not be ever touched by anyone from Disney’s team again.

09. The film “Saving Mr. Banks” won’t be popular as no famous actors played in it.

1) True 2) False 3) Not stated

10. “Saving Mr. Banks” is a film about how the book about Mary Poppins was written.

1) True 2) False 3) Not stated

11. P.L. Travers decided to take part in the film production for the sake of memory of her dearest father.

1) True 2) False 3) Not stated

12. The film “Mary Poppins” never received any rewards.

1) True 2) False 3) Not stated

13. All the things that P. L. Travers disagreed with remained in the film.

1) True 2) False 3) Not stated

14. The moody writer couldn’t stand the producing team.

1) True 2) False 3) Not stated

15. The movie “Saving Mr. Banks” is in many aspects truthful.

1) True 2) False 3) Not stated

16. Hollywood in many ways misunderstood and changed the idea.

1) True 2) False 3) Not stated

 

 

 

 

 

Spotlight 9

Reading Skills

Variant B

 

Task A.   Match the Headings to the paragraphs. There is one heading you don’t need to use.

1. Motives for cruel treatment

2. All shapes and sizes

3. National No Bullying month

4. The way to stop them

5. Celebrities as cybervictims

6. Real-life bullies versus cyberbullies

7. The effects of what they do

8. A new way to bully

A. Almost every teen has access to the internet nowadays and most of them have a mobile phone. So it is not surprising that cyberbullying, or bullying through new technologies, has appeared. Experts now believe that the sites that kids get bullied on are endless: Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, ask.fm, Snapchat, Vine, ect.

B. Cyberbullies do not resemble typical bullies, who are often dominant. They may be less dominant which makes them completely different from real-life bullies. These results prove that online bullies are a different group of troublemakers. Cyberbullies do not have to be tough to be able to bully. They abuse their victims hiding behind their computer screens.

C. Even though cyberspace seems perfect for bullying by strangers, many cyberbullies are their victims’ classmates, friends, and schoolmates. Cyberbullies are more often boys, while cybervictims are girls. Even well-liked celebrities can be targeted by cyberbullies. Tom Daley, the British Olympic diver, was abused online. His father died during the 2012 Olympic Games and Tom received some very cruel tweets about this.

D. When the researchers interviewed teenagers on their experiences with cyberbullying, they mentioned competition between friends and jealousy as common motives. A revenge motive was also among them. Friends or romantic couples thought of punishing those who had done something to harm them after the break-up of their relationship. Entertainment and the need for resources were less often mentioned.

E. Cyberbullying is often abuse through emails, instant messages, text messages or other modes of electronic communication. This includes name-calling, lying about people to spoil their reputation. The bully may even steal the victim’s password, hack his or her accounts, and send embarrassing messages to others or make expensive purchases.

F. Anti-bullying activists say: “Never be bullied into silence”. The 21st century online bullying can be extremely dangerous and damaging to the emotional and physical development of youths because it opens up its victims to 24-hour humiliation. Until our society recognizes cyberbullying as a serious crime, the suffering of thousands of silent victims will continue.

G. Cyberbullying happens every day, since teens use the Internet regularly. Only 1 out of 10 victims of cyberbullying tells a trusted adult or a parent about their abuse. This means that the rest of them silently suffer from deep depression. A cybervictim usually turns into a different person who starts doing badly at school. Victims of cyberbullying are 2 to 9 times more likely to consider committing suicide.

A	B	C	D	E	F	G

 

 

 

Task B.  Read the text and mark the statements True, False or Not stated

Mobile phones

When Scotsman Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone in 1876, it was a revolution in communication. For the first time, people could talk to each other over great distances almost as clearly as if they were in the same room. Nowadays, though, we increasingly use Bell’s invention for emails, faxes and the internet rather than talking.

Over the last two decades a new means of spoken communication has emerged: the mobile phone. The modern mobile phone is a more complex version of the two-way radio. Traditional two-way radio was a very limited means of communication. In the 1940s, researchers decided to use a number of radio masts to pick up signals from two-way radios. When a caller moved too far away from one mast, the next mast would pick up the signal. Scientists called each mast’s reception area a separate “cell”; this is why in many countries mobile phones are called “cell phones”.

The first real mobile telephone call was made in 1973 by Dr Martin Cooper, the scientist who invented the modern mobile handset. He tested his invention by calling a rival scientist to announce his success. Within a decade, mobile phones became available to the public. The streets of modern cities were full of young professionals who carried the expensive handsets as status symbols.

But in the mid-90s, something happened. Cheaper handsets and cheaper calling rates meant that, almost overnight, it seemed that everyone had a mobile phone. And the giant plastic bricks of the 80s had been replaced with smooth little objects that fitted nicely into pockets and bags. Meeting times became approximate, subject to change at any moment under the new order of communication: the Short Message Service (SMS) or text message. Going to be late? Send a text message! It takes much less effort than arriving on time, and it’s much less awkward than explaining your lateness face-to-face. It’s the perfect communication method for the busy modern lifestyle. Like email before it, the text message has altered the way we write in English, bringing more abbreviations and a more lax approach to language construction. Traditional rules of grammar and spelling are much less important when you’re sitting on the bus, hurriedly typing “Will B 15min late — C U @ the bar. Sorry!:-)”.

Mobile phones are now a vital part of daily life for people. Over the last few years mobiles have become more and more advanced, with built-in cameras, global positioning devices and internet access. The “third generation” of mobile phones is powerful micro-computers with broadband internet access, which allow us to watch TV, download internet files at high speed and send instant video clips to friends.

Alexander Graham Bell would be amazed if he could see how far the science of telephony has progressed in less than 150 years. If he were around today, he might say: “That’s gr8! But I’m v busy rite now. Will call U 2nite”.

09. These days, Bell’s invention is used less frequently for talking rather than the internet.

1) True 2) False 3) Not stated

10. Modern mobile phone technology is based on two-way radio.

1) True 2) False 3) Not stated

11. The first phone call took place between Dr Martin Cooper and his wife.

1) True 2) False 3) Not stated

12. In every pub and restaurant you could hear the bleep and buzz of mobiles ringing and registering messages.

1) True 2) False 3) Not stated

13. People’s timekeeping changed.

1) True 2) False 3) Not stated

14. The character limit on text messages has led to a different attitude to language construction.

1) True 2) False 3) Not stated

15. Mobile phones used to be an attribute of a high-powered businessperson.

1) True 2) False 3) Not stated

16. The famous Scotsman would be shocked by the results of his revolutionary invention.

1) True 2) False 3) Not stated

Spotlight 9

Reading Skills

Variant C

 

Task A.   Match the Headings to the paragraphs. There is one heading you don’t need to use.

1. Reading for pleasure

2. Developing new skills

3. Nothing you have done before

4. Cooking for others

5. Eat healthily

6. Аn adventure

7. Ideas to spend a Long Holiday

8. Fresh air benefits

A. So it’s nearly the end of term. If you haven’t planned anything yet, here is a survival guide to help you. This article will provide all the information how to spend a perfect summer break!

B. Go and tell your parents you will make something for them and your siblings in the kitchen. They will thank you for cooking for them. Try to cook something that they like or just have a try! It will be fun.

C. This is a perfect way to relax. Go take a book outside and read it in the shade. May I suggest you “Pride and the Prejudice”? If you don’t like such books get a science fiction.

D. Don’t sit around and eat all your chips or chocolate. Try to eat fruit, vegetables and protein for most of your meals. If you can’t live without eating something sweet then have one or 2 in the afternoon.

E. Use your free time to dive into creating something. If you are interested in music, then try making some new music. If you love writing, then try making an article on WikiHow! The possibilities are endless.

F. If you have been thinking of doing something and never have the time to do it, then do it. Do not waste your time sitting in front of the TV. Broaden your horizons with a brand-new experience.

G. Simple outdoor pleasures are highly recommended. Not only a quick trip out of the house is healthy and mood-lifting, but also a great opportunity for exercise. If you have been thinking of reducing weight, then go out and jog, walk or do any outdoor physical activity you enjoy.

A	B	C	D	E	F	G

 

Task B.  Read the text and mark the statements True, False or Not stated

An Exchange Student at 17

It almost feels like as if it was just yesterday when I was on my own on a plane not really knowing what to expect but excited for what the future had for me. Now I’m back home with a ton of memories, emails to answer, and a lot of stories to share. So I will write about my experience of being an exchange student in Appleton, Wisconsin for a whole school year.

I’ve wanted to be an exchange student my whole high school life. I read about summer programs in a brochure from IFS. Having friends from another country would be the coolest thing in the world. I would be on my own, have my own Indiana Jones adventure. At the end of my senior year I was applying to IFS. I had meetings in the weekends about rules, how to survive, homesickness, etc.

I was placed with the greatest host family in the whole world. They treated me like their own. I had a host mom, a host dad, a brother and sister. Ben would always be sweet and give me hugs and kisses. I loved every minute of it because I never had a younger brother before.

Through e-mails we established that I was going to call them Mom and Dad. I felt super loved. They hugged me when I needed to be hugged, let me stay out late at night with my friends, and even let me have parties in the basement.

I went to an American co-ed public high school and that was a big adjustment coming from an all-girl private Catholic school. I have never met so many kinds of people in just one place. I was scared during the first day of school. I didn’t know anyone, I got lost since the school was huge. But pretty soon I started to get comfortable. It was funny how people always got surprised by how good I was at speaking in English.

They were like, “Wow, you even speak better English than me”. I had the chance to take fun classes like Spanish, photography, and art so I met people with similar interests as me and got to go to field trips. My favourite was going to Chicago. I was giving a talk about the Philippines for the school’s Global Awareness Week.

I made a lot of friends and met so many people. Friends took me out to movies, hockey games, restaurants, road trips, rock shows and concerts. I got to do my first American prank, which was writing on boys cars with lipstick. Everyone was warm, open. I never really got homesick because I had friends who made sure I was okay. They were all always there for me and helping me. I will forever remember all the fun times I had with them.

Every month, I met with other exchange students in our area. I made friends with people from Germany, Brazil, the Netherlands, England, Hungary, etc. It was fun when we were together because we saw how language, skin color or height didn’t matter. We were all the same. We talked about the differences at home, school, and out countries. I learned so many things about other cultures.

Being away for 10 months and living alone in a completely different world has taught me a lot of things. I now can say that I am independent, appreciate my family and friends here more, open to new ideas, and more confident about myself. Having my own adventure has proven to me that anything is possible and that I can do anything.

09. The author has just come back from one-year away trip.

1) True 2) False 3) Not stated

10. Before her trip she watched films about Indiana Jones.

1) True 2) False 3) Not stated

11. The author called her host family “Mom & Dad”.

1) True 2) False 3) Not stated

12. The author spoke better English than her American classmates.

1) True 2) False 3) Not stated

13. The author’s new friends didn’t take her to social events.

1) True 2) False 3) Not stated

14. The author is originally from the Philippines.

1) True 2) False 3) Not stated

15. The author didn’t make friends with anyone from other countries.

1) True 2) False 3) Not stated

16. Now the author lives separately from her parents.

1) True 2) False 3) Not stated