1 Unit Test

Name

Mark

Vocabulary

Optional Reading

Read the text and answer the questions that follow.

Crosswords
I

With their black and white squares, and Across and Down clues, crossword puzzles are easy to spot in
newspapers and magazines around the world. For almost a hundred years, they have provided entertainment on
train journeys, helped pass the time in doctors waiting rooms and were even used to help select people to break
codes during World War II.

II

For thousands of years, people have played games that involve writing letters into squares to form words.
However, modern crosswords are only about a hundred years old. The first modern puzzle was created by Arthur
Wynne for the 21st December, 1913, edition of the New York World newspaper. It was so popular that, as a result,
puzzles began to be published every week, many being sent in by the readers themselves. However, printing
errors were common, making the puzzles almost impossible to complete, and consequently, they were
discontinued briefly. By 1917, other newspapers in the United States were printing their own crosswords, and the
first book of crosswords came out in 1924.

III

At the beginning, crosswords were popular, but not everyone thought they were a good idea. For example, in
1921, the New York Public Library complained that people were taking dictionaries away from legitimate
scholars to solve these puzzles. And in 1924, The New York Times newspaper commented that people were
wasting time trying to fit words into a square.

IV

Crosswords first appeared in Britain in 1922, and, unlike the US puzzles, usually had cryptic clues. This means
that solvers had to first de-code the clue before finding the answer. Because this requires a particular way of
thinking, these crosswords were used to select workers for the British Code Centre in World War II.

Today, puzzles of both types appear regularly in international publications as well as online. Crossword puzzles
are now also used as a fun way to teach vocabulary. So, perhaps you should try solving a few in an attempt to
better your English!

Decide if the following sentences are true (T) or false (F). Find evidence in the text to justify your answers.
(3 x 3 = 9 points)

1. In 1924, the first crossword puzzle was published.

............................................................................................................................................
2. Some people opposed using dictionaries to solve puzzles.
............................................................................................................................................
3. British crossword puzzles are no longer different than American ones.
............................................................................................................................................

Complete the sentences. (3 x 3 = 9 points)

1. Arthur Wynne ........................................................................................................................... .

2. Unlike British crosswords, American crosswords .......................................................................
................................................................................................................................................... .
3. In World War II, workers for the British Code Centre .................................................................
................................................................................................................................................... .

1 Unit Test

Optional Reading

Vocabulary

Answer the question. (3 points)

Why did the New York World newspaper briefly stop printing crossword puzzles?
..........................................................................................................................................................

Find words in the text that mean: (4 x 1 = 4 points)

1. see (paragraph I)

2. usual (paragraph II)

3. for a short time (paragraph II)

4. improve (paragraph V)