: ______

:___________ :_________

, 25.02.2012

:120
: . . . - - . , (0) . . .

Good luck!
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I.

Read the article and answer the questions below. A

Christmas in March

Just before Christmas in 1944, a letter arrived at our house in Philadelphia. The postmark was from Tuskegee, Alabama, so we all knew who it was from. We excitedly gathered around Mother as she opened it at the kitchen table.

My Dear Mother, I did not get the leave I expected for Christmas. I will miss all of you. Please leave the Christmas tree up until I make it back. I hope to be home by March. Love from your son, Clifton
I was 17 years old at the time. My heart sank. I felt a profound sadness that my favorite brother would not be home for Christmas. He was one of the Tuskegee Airmen and was responsible for maintaining the airplanes flying off to fight in World War II. My mother, being the optimist she always was, said, Well, it looks like well get to have two Christmases this year! After Christmas, my sister and I worked together to make sure we kept that Christmas tree looking as pretty as possible. This was no easy feat. By mid-January, the branches drooped so low to the ground that they became a sliding board for the decorations. Each day, ornaments would come crashing to the ground and there were brand new sprinklings of pine needles all over the wooden floor. My sister and I took turns sweeping them up. We repositioned the ornaments to the stronger branches on the tree, hoping they would stay on. Each time we freshened that tree up, my sister and I were full of thoughts about Clifton and how happy we would be to see him again. It made us feel that he was close by, even though he was hundreds of miles away. On March 5, the doorbell rang. We ran to the door and gave Clifton a big hug. As he hugged Mother, I could see him peek over her head at the Christmas tree.

Its beautiful, he said. Thank you. Clifton opened his presents and told us all sorts of stories about his work in Tuskegee. That night as we slept, we heard a crash in the living room. We all ran to see what had happened. The tree had toppled onto the sofa and there were needles and broken ornaments everywhere. We all had a good laugh. It was fortuitous Clifton got home when he did!

1) After Clifton's letter is read to the family, the narrators mood shifts from A. arrogant to humble B. sad to joyful C. uncertain to clear D. excited to disappointed

2) In the middle of the story, we learn that the mother is an optimist. This means she A. is not easily upset B. upholds high standards C. maintains a positive viewpoint D. considers all outcomes before making a decision

3) What can we conclude about Clifton by reading the letter? I. He will not be home for Christmas. II. He will be home by March. III. He is one of the Tuskegee Airmen. A. I only B. I and II C. II and III D. I, II, and III

4) Which of the following words best describes the work the sisters did to help keep the tree looking pretty? A. miracle B. disaster C. drudgery D. teamwork

5) What is the most likely reason the narrator compared the tree limbs to a sliding board? A. They were so high in the air. B. The ornaments were slipping off. C. The sisters liked to play on them. D. The branches looked ugly without their needles.

6) The main reason the narrator found it necessary to maintain the Christmas decorations so carefully was because she A. holds a deep respect for Christmas B. needed something to take her mind off Clifton C. wanted the decorations to look good for Clifton D. did not want to disappoint her mother

7) "Each day, there were brand new sprinklings of pine needles all over the wooden floor." "My sister and I took turns sweeping them up."

Which of the following is the best way to combine the above sentences while keeping their meaning the same as used in the story?

A. Each day, there were brand new sprinklings of pine needles all over the wooden floor; despite this, my sister and I took turns sweeping them up. B. Each day, there were brand new sprinklings of pine needles all over the wooden floor, and so my sister and I took turns sweeping them up. C. Each day, there were brand new sprinklings of pine needles all over the wooden floor because my sister and I took turns sweeping them up. D. Each day, there were brand new sprinklings of pine needles all over the wooden floor unless my sister and I took turns sweeping them up.

8) For the sisters, caring for the tree came to represent A. a continual hardship B. a way of being close to their brother C. the hope that the war would end soon D. an ongoing Christmas celebration

9) What other title would best fit this passage? A. "Flying Home" B. A Christmas War C. "Granting Clifton's Wish" D. The Disappointing Letter

10) How does Clifton seem to feel when he sees the Christmas tree? A. appreciative B. disappointed C. estranged D. remorseful

(___ / 20)

II.

From the words listed below, choose the ones which best fit the space and
write its letter on the space. Ex. A,B,C or D

INDIVIDUAL FREEDOM The death of Fred Hill was recorded by a (01)........................ article in the Times newspaper. Fred was 74 years old and died in prison. He was in prison for the 32nd time. Why?. (02)........................... for any great crime, but for a reason you may find difficult to understand. You see, Fred was a motorcyclist who (03)........................... to wear a crash helmet. He believed that he was a safer motorcyclist (04)........................... a crash helmet. More importantly, he believed that, right or wrong, the decision to wear a crash helmet was his to (05)........................... . It was not for the State to tell him (06)........................... to do. So Fred went out on his old motorbike with no helmet, over and over again. The police (07)........................... him. They (08)........................... a blind eye when they could. But often they had no choice. And in the court they had no choice (09)........................... to send him to prison because he refused to pay the fines. They usually (10)....................... him 30 days. But the last time, they gave the old man two months. Some way through the sentence, Fred suffered a heart attack and died.

1. A) main 2. A) Never 3. A) rejected 4. A) less 5. A) do 6. A) what 7. A) recognised 8. A) made 9. A)and 10. A)held

B) editorial B) Neither B) refused B) without B) settle B) how B) knew B)turned B)other B)did

C) front C) None C) differed C) minus C) take C) so C) acquainted C)closed C)option C)imprisoned

D) leading D) Not D) disagreed D) except D) decide D) that D) sympathised D)had D)but D)gave (___ / 10)

III.

Fill in the spaces using a word from the word in brackets. (word formation)
01. He said Good Evening in a most .(friend) way. 02. Television is one of the cheapest forms of(entertain) 03. I asked the(library) if she could help me find a book. 04. ..(cruel) to animals must be prevented. 05. I have a good working(relation) with my boss. 06. It would be (honest) of you to keep the money you found . 07. Would you mind explaining your ...............(absent) from school yesterday? 08. Her boss ..(courage) her to work hard. 09. .(free) is everything for a teenager.

10. I was (horror) when I saw the dirty k itchen.

(___ / 20) IV.Complete the text using one word in each space.
Fast food The concept of fast food is very important in English-speaking countries (0) for one major reason: the working day starts at around the same time (1)___________ in European countries, but finishes (2) _____________ earlier, typically at about five oclock in (3) _____________ evening when the offices, banks and many of the shops begin to close. As a result, theres not much time for lunch, (4) _____________many people bring something from home to eat at

their desks, (5) _____________ with a cup of tea or instant coffee made with the office kettle, (6) _____________ than going out to a restaurant for a proper lunch as do many European office workers, (7) ____________ usually finish work much later in the evening. For (8) _______________ who prefer to go out of the office to have a break or (9) _______________ fresh air, there are the various fast food options (10) _______________ as sandwiches, burgers, kebaps or fish and chips.

(___/10)

V. Put the correct prepositions:

01. He talked to me ....................... the problem. 02. The room measured three metres ............................. five. 03. Throughout the holidays it rained day ...................... day. 04. He lied ...................... the police when he was arrested for drunken driving. 05. Port comes ....................... Portugal. 06. The movie was boring from beginning ....................... end. 07. In the floods there were ten thousand square kilometres .................. water. 08. The goods do not have to be paid for in advance but can be sent cash .................. delivery. 09. The train is not ......................... time so we will be late. 10. I prefer to pay ........................ cheque rather than cash.

(___ / 10)

VI. Each sentence has one mistake ( spelling, grammar, structural) Circle the mistakes and write the correct sentences on the lines.
1. I don't like when she tells me that I have to study.________________________________ 2. See you on monday._______________________________________________________ 3. She sent to her teacher a beautiful Christmas card._______________________________ 4. She cleaned the house and after she ironed the clothes. ___________________________ 5. Have you yet had a shower?_________________________________________________ 6. I never taken photos with a digital camera.______________________________________ 7. He studies here on this table.________________________________________________ 8. This guide gives useful informations about the city._______________________________ 9. He is very mature despite if his age.___________________________________________ 10. This is the ball wich I bought yesterday._______________________________________ (___ / 20)

VII. British culture. Circle the correct answer.

1.Whats the Queens name? a. Queen Ann I b. Queen Elizabeth II

c. Queen Margaret II

2.. What is a double-decker? a. A bus b. A disco 3.Where can you buy stamps?
a. At the post office

c. A taxi

b. At the the butchers c. At the supermarket

4. Where does Nessie supposedly live? a. Isle of Man b. Loch Ness

5. Dame Agatha Christie wrote lots of ______. a. detective stories b. plays

c. River Thames
c. poems

(___/10)

Total points: ____ / 100