Exam Card 18

 Reading 

 1. Read the article and say in 2—3 sentences what it is about.

THE MOST MYSTIQUE¹ PICTURE

     Every hour about 1,500 people visit the Louvre Museum in Paris with the specific intention of seeing one particular painting: the Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci. Most of these visitors look at the painting for about three minutes before they walk back to the tourist buses outside.

         Leonardo loved the painting very much and people say that he took it everywhere with him. The painting was originally ordered by a rich businessman in Florence, who wanted a portrait of his wife, Lisa. Leonardo began the painting in 1503 and he finished it about three or four years later. The fact that Leonardo wanted to keep the painting himself, adds to the Mona Lisa’s mystique.

       Mona Lisa’s mysterious smile has fascinated everyone who has ever seen the painting. In his ‘Lives of the Artists’, written just a few years after Leonardo’s death, Giorgio Vasari wrote, ‘While painting Mona Lisa Leonardo employed singers and musicians to keep her happy and so avoid the sadness that painters usually give to portraits. As a result, there was a smile that seemed divine² rather than human; and those who saw it were amazed to find how alive and real it appeared.’

Modern art critics also emphasize how the portrait seems alive and real. ‘She is like a living person,’ writes art historian E.H. Gombrich, ‘She seems to change before our eyes. Even in photographs we can experience this strange effect. Sometimes she seems to be looking down on us, and sometimes we can detect sadness in her smile. All this sounds rather mysterious, and it is; that is so often the effect of a great work of art.’

The Mona Lisa is certainly a masterpiece, a magnificent work of art, but it is also a part of modern popular culture. Her image appears on plates, T­shirts, mouse pads and in advertisements. Perhaps for this reason, officials at the Louvre Museum placed the painting in a specially built area in a room with other great 16th century Italian paintings. In this way, visitors have a better chance to appreciate the painting as a work of art rather than as a tourist attraction.

¹ mystique [mɪˈstiːk] таинственный

² divine [dɪˈvaɪn] божественный

2.  Why is Mona Lisa smiling? Read aloud the extract which says about it.

3.  What makes the Mona Lisa so special?

4.  Why isn’t the painting displayed in a separate room?

Listening

II. Listen to the conversation between two friends and answer the questions below.

1.  What does Christian want to become?

2.  Why does Kate need to learn English?

3.  What piece of advice does Christian give to his friend?

Speaking

III. Let’s talk about family

Exam Card 17

 Reading 

 1. Read the article and say in 2—3 sentences what it is about.

MOTHER TERESA

           Mother Teresa was a simple nun¹. She never wanted to be famous, but everyone in the world knows who she is.

       Mother Teresa was born in 1910 in what is now Macedonia². She was the youngest of three children. Agnes’s father died when she was a child. Her mother made dresses to support the family. Agnes’s mother also liked to do charity work, such as visiting the sick. Agnes often went with her, and she enjoyed helping these people.

        Even as a child, Agnes wanted to be a nun. When she was 18 years old, she joined a group of nuns in India. There, she chose the name Teresa. Then she went to Calcutta to work at St. Mary’s School, in a convent³. Sister Teresa worked there for 20 years and eventually became the principal.

        One day in 1946 Sister Teresa was riding on a train to Darjeeling⁴. She looked out of the window and saw dirty children wearing rags and sleeping in doorways. Sick and dying people were lying on dirty streets. At that moment, she believed God sent her a message. She decided to go to work with the poor.

       Two years later, Sister Teresa left the convent and opened a school for the kids from poor families. Though at the very beginning the school had no roof, no walls, and no chairs, later it became well­known all around India. In 1948, Sister Teresa started her own group of nuns. They were called the Missionaries of Charity. The nuns lived in the slums⁵ with people who were poor, dirty, and sick. It was hard work and the days were long. But many young nuns came from around the world to join Mother Teresa.

       Later, she started homes for children without families. She also started clinics. Over the years, news of her work spread around the world. Many people sent her donations of money, others came to work with her. By 1990 the Missionaries of Charity were working in 400 centres around the world.

     Mother Teresa got the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979. But she always said her greatest reward was helping people. Her message to the world was: ‘We can do no great things – only small things with great love’.

¹ a nun [nʌn] монахиня

² Macedonia [ ˌmæsəˈdəʊnɪə] страна Македония

³ a convent [ˈkɒnv(ə)nt] монастырь

⁴ Darjeeling [daːˈdʒiːlɪŋ] город Дарджилинг

⁵ slums трущобы

2.  The author writes about Mother Teresa’s family. Read aloud the extract which says about it.

3.  Why did Mother Teresa decide to devote her life to people in need?

4.  What did Mother Teresa do for people?

Listening

II.  Listen to the interview and answer the questions below.

1.  What does Jackie want to become?

2.  Why has she chosen this profession?

3.  Why is it important for students to do sport at school?

Speaking

III. Let’s talk about accomodation

Exam Card 16

 Reading 

 1. Read the extract and say in 2—3 sentences what it is about.

MR WEMMICK’S “CASTLE”

         Wemmick’s house was a little wooden cottage in the middle of a large garden. The top of the house had been built and painted like a battery loaded with guns. I said I really liked it. I think Wemmick’s house was the tiniest I had ever seen. It had very few windows and the door was almost too small to get in.

        ‘Look,’ said Wemmick, after I have crossed this bridge, I raise it so that nobody can enter the Castle.’

          The ‘bridge’ was a plank¹ and it crossed a gap about four feet² wide and two feet deep. But I enjoyed seeing the smile on Wemmick’s face and the pride with which he raised his bridge. The gun on the roof of the house, he told me, was fired every night at nine o’clock. I later heard it. Immediately, it made an impressive sound.

          ‘At the back,’ he said, ‘there are chickens, ducks, geese, and rabbits. I’ve also got my own little vegetable garden and I grow cucumbers. Wait until supper and you’ll see for yourself what kind of salad I can make. If the Castle is ever attacked, I will be able to survive for quite a while,’ he said with a smile, but at the same time seriously.

          Then Wemmick showed me his collection of curiosities. They were mostly to do with being on the wrong side of the law: a pen with which a famous forgery³ had been committed, some locks of hair, several manuscript confessions written from prison.

           ‘I am my own engineer, my own carpenter, my own plumber and my own gardener. I am my own Jack of all Trades⁴,’ said Wemmick, receiving my compliments. Wemmick told me that it had taken many years to bring his property to this state of perfection.

 ‘Is it your own, Mr. Wemmick?’

‘Oh yes, I have got a hold of it a bit at a time. I have absolute ownership now. You know, the office is one thing, and private life is another. When I go to the office, I leave the Castle behind me, and when I come to the Castle, I leave the office behind me. If you don’t mind, I’d like you to do the same. I don’t want to talk about my home in a professional manner.

¹ plank [plæŋk] брус, доска

² feet [fiːt] – мн. ч. от foot – мера длины, равная 30,48 см

³ forgery [ˈfɔdʒərɪ] подделка

⁴ Jack of all Trades мастер на все руки

2.  ‘An Englishman’s home is his castle’. Read aloud the extract which proves this idea.

3.  What do we understand about Wemmick’s home life?

4.  Why does Wemmick call himself Jack of all Trades?

Listening

II. Listen to a part of the interview with a thirteen-year old writer, Sally Myers, and answer the questions below.

1. Why did Sally decide to write the book?

2. What did Sally’s Dad think about the book?

3. How did Sally’s life change after publishing the book?

Speaking

III. Let’s talk about tourism

Exam Card 15

 Reading 

 1. Read the article and say in 2—3 sentences what it is about.

MAKE YOUR HOME GREENER

Residential buildings are responsible for consuming 27% of the total amount of energy consumed within Europe and are the biggest source of global warming in the world. This is a fact that has, until recently, been overlooked by lawmakers trying to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, who have concentrated their efforts on industry and transport. The EU has now passed a new law which intends to cut considerably carbon dioxide emissions¹ from buildings. This means that each of us can now save the planet from the comfort of our own homes.

    The first things we can do are simple and easy. We can block up draughts², switch off unnecessary lights and make sure cold and hot water taps are not left running. The next step requires more planning and some expense, but as well as saving energy, we will also save on bills. Many homes have window and roof insulation³ but it is rarely enough. Full insulation can have a dramatic effect on energy consumption. We should use energy efficient light bulbs. These are usually expensive to buy but consume less than half the energy of standard bulbs. These bulbs last much longer than conventional light bulbs reducing the consumption of resources. Also, thermal solar panels are very efficient. They are capable of providing all the hot water you need.

       We can install a ‘grey’ water recycling system. At present water used to flush the toilets is of the same drinkable quality that comes out of the taps. This is an unnecessary waste of energy used in water purification. A grey water recycling system cleans water that has been used for washing and sends it through the toilet system reducing the use of clean drinking water.

      New buildings have more energy saving features in their design. They can have a wooden structure, extensive insulation, electronic environmental controls, triple glazing⁴, a non­polluting heating system and a turf⁵ roof. However, it is how we deal with our present homes that will determine housing’s contribution to global warming. It’s down to each of us, so get insulating!

¹ carbon dioxide emissions [ˈkɑːbən daɪˈɒkˈsaɪd ɪmɪʃnz] выбросы углекислого газа

² draught [drɑːft] сквозняк

³ insulation [ ˌɪnsjʊˈleɪʃn] изоляция, утепление

⁴ glazing [ˈɡleɪzɪŋ] остекление

⁵ turf [təːf] торф

2.  What energy saving features in the design of the building are used nowadays? Read aloud the extract which says about it.

3.  What can we do to cut carbon dioxide emissions from buildings?

4.  What is considered to be an unnecessary waste of energy used in water purification?

Listening

II. Listen to the tour guide and answer the questions below.

1.  What sort of tour is it?

2.  What will the tourists see on the tour?

3.  Why does the tourist ask to return the money?

Speaking

III. Let’s talk about outstanding people

Exam Card 14

 Reading 

 1. Read the article and say in 2—3 sentences what it is about.

VIDEO BLOGGER

       In April 2007, a 16 ­year­ old English boy named Charlie McDonnell was studying for his exams. But he was bored, so he turned on his computer and started surfing the web. He soon found a website called YouTube and within minutes he was watching a video of another teenager sitting in his bedroom and talking to his computer about how bored he was. ‘I could do better than that!’ thought Charlie. So, using a cheap computer and webcam, he made his first video blog and posted it on YouTube under the name Charlieissocoollike.

A few days after the first video Charlie found that he had 150 subscribers. Encouraged by this, he went on to make more videos. A month later Charlie’s audience grew and he started to get hundreds of video messages from his fans. “It was really strange,” says Charlie. “I’d been talking to my computer for a month and suddenly my computer started talking back to me!”

His next big success came a few months later when Oprah Winfrey, the famous American TV host, showed one of Charlie’s comedy videos called How to be English on her programme, which made him popular in the USA too.

Charlie also realised he could use his fame to help people less fortunate than himself. To celebrate his 18th birthday, he raised £5,000 for cancer research. He raised more than four times as much when he co­presented a live show on the Internet. He stayed awake for 24 hours performing challenges from viewers. All the money went to the children’s charity UNICEF¹.

But what is the secret of his popularity? “I just make videos that I would want to watch,” he says, “and I’m not trying to sell anything. I’m just trying to talk with people and that’s it for me.” His honesty and modesty are perhaps the main reasons why Charlie is so well liked. And of course, he is a talented song writer, camera man, actor and singer.

And if you were wondering how Charlie did in his exams back in 2007...well, he passed with nine A grades and one B! He says that he wants to go on to study at university in the future but decided to try and make a career on YouTube before that.

¹UNICEF [ˈjuːnɪsef] Фонд ООН помощи детям

2.  Charlie says how the idea of making a video crossed his mind. Find this extract and read it aloud.

3.  How did he become popular?

4.  Why do people like Charlie?

To learn more about Charlie McDonnell visit  charlieissocoollike

Listening

II.  Listen to Huan, a Chinese man, speaking about moving out and answer the questions below.

    1. Why do young people prefer to live with their parents in Hong Kong?

    2. How did Huan’s parents react to his decision?

    3. What are the advantages of living on your own?  

Speaking

III. Let’s talk about national character and stereotypes

Exam Card 13

 Reading 

 1. Read the article and say in 2—3 sentences what it is about.

THE STRESS OF COMMUTING¹

        In today’s modern world, people are constantly looking for ways to avoid stress and improve their lifestyle. Too much stress can lead to a variety of illnesses from headaches to high blood pressure. Simple things, such as driving to and from work on a daily basis, can be such a stressful experience that many people are left feeling totally exhausted. Cars can give normally peaceful people a feeling of power that can make them more aggressive.

         Fortunately, there are various means of public transport to choose from within modern towns and cities. Sometimes, all we need to do is to change a few of our long­standing habits in order to discover a much more comfortable way of life. By simply planning journeys, not only can we save time and money, but we can also reduce stress levels dramatically. By using public transport everybody wins. Most towns and cities are well-­covered by bus, tram and metro services. So,  next time you see your neighbour or colleague waiting at the bus stop as you drive by, don't  feel sorry for him because he will, no doubt, arrive at the office much ealier than you as you will still be fighting to find a parking space.  

            Public transport systems have improved considerably in recent years and there is now more focus on environmentally friendly forms. For example, old tram systems have been reintroduced into many European cities, making movement across large areas much faster and ‘cleaner’. While making use of these services, you are also helping against increasing levels of pollution.

                Or you might consider another way of getting to work. Carpooling² is a relatively new and convenient system when several people arrange to share one private car to get to work. And some companies have already introduced a plan where those who carpool get preferential parking in the company garage.

          Another way of reducing levels of both stress and pollution is an introduction of an environmentally friendly network of cycle tracks. The aim of building cycle tracks is to motivate people to use their bicycles instead of their cars.          

¹ commuting [kəˈmjʊːtɪŋ] ежедневные поездки на работу в город из пригорода и обратно

² to carpool [ˈkɑːˌpuːl] подвозить на машине по очереди

2.  The network of public transport has improved lately. Read aloud the extract which says about it.

3.  How can we help reduce pollution?

4.  Why is carpooling convenient?

Listening

II. Listen to the advice how to make a good friend  and answer the questions below.

    1.   How do people feel if they have no friend?

    2.   What qualities does a good friend have?

    3.   Why is it good to be a real friend?

Speaking

III. Let’s talk about international cooperation

Exam Card 12

 Reading 

 1. Read the article and say in 2—3 sentences what it is about.

AMELIA

        Possibly the most famous female pilot ever, Amelia Earhart was born in 1897 in Kansas, the USA. Amelia had a difficult and unsettled childhood. Her family travelled a great deal so her father could find work. Although she often missed school, Amelia was nevertheless considered to be very bright academically. She enjoyed reading and poetry as well as sports, especially basketball and tennis.

           After graduating from high school, instead of going to college, Amelia decided to study nursing. During the First World War, she worked as a military nurse in Canada. When the war ended she became a social worker back in America and taught English to immigrants. In her free time, Amelia enjoyed going to air shows and watching aerial stunts¹, which were very popular during the 1920s. Her fascination with flying began when, at one of those shows, she took a ten­minute ride, and from that moment on she knew she had to learn to fly.

           Amelia took on several odd jobs to pay for the flying lessons and after a year, she had saved enough money to buy her own plane. She organized cross­country air races for women pilots and formed a now famous women pilots’ organization, called the ‘Ninety­Nines’. One day Amelia received an invitation to be the first woman ever to make the flight across the Atlantic from Canada to Britain. Amelia made the flight in 1928 and, although she was only a passenger and two men flew the plane, it made her a celebrity. She also met there her future husband, George Putman, a publisher, who arranged the flight and organized all the publicity.

         In 1932 Amelia and George decided Amelia should make the Atlantic crossing from America to Britain alone. She broke several records on this flight; she became the first woman to fly the Atlantic solo, the only person to have flown it twice and she established a new transatlantic crossing record of 13 hours and 30 minutes. Understandably, she became even more famous as a result earning respect for women pilots all over the world by proving that women could fly as well as men, if not better.

¹ an aerial stunt [ˈɛərɪəl ˈstʌnt] фигура высшего пилотажа

2.  How did Amelia get interested in flying? Read aloud the extract which says about it.

3.  What invitation did Amelia receive one day?

4.  Why did Amelia become famous?

Listening

II.  Listen to the conversation between Nancy and her mum and answer the questions below.

1. What do Nancy’s parents worry about?

2. Why does Nancy refuse to do household chores?

3. What arguments does Mum use to make Nancy clean the room?  

Speaking

III. Let’s talk about the mass media