Reading Comprehension

 
Text 1
 
Task: Read the text and choose the best variant (a, b, с or d) to answer the questions. On your
answer sheet, mark the corresponding letter.
 
On July 4, 1776, a group of rebels representing the Thirteen British colonies on the
Atlantic Ocean coast in North America signed a document. It stated that these colonies had the
right to be free and independent. The document is known as the Declaration of Independence.
July 4 is celebrated by Americans as a national holiday — Independence Day.
There is a building in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, which is called Independence Hall. Here the
Declaration was signed. On the building there is a famous Liberty Bell, which rang to tell the
happy people in the streets that a new country had been born. But Britain did not agree with this
fact until 1783. That year the American colonists won in the war of Independence with Britain.
June 14 is Flag Day in the USA. On that day in 1777 the Americans adopted their own flag.
The stars in the flag — white on a deep blue background — represent the numbers of states
making up the United States.
Americans think about and treat their flag with respect. In American schools, the Flag day
begins with a solemn ceremony of raising the flag.
 
1.     When was the Declaration of Independence signed?
b)     In July 1776;
2.     How many British colonies signed the document?
a)     Thirteen;
3.     What is celebrated in the US A on July 4?
c)     Independence Day;
4.     Where was the Declaration of Independence signed?
c)     Independence Hall in Philadelphia;
5.     When did the famous Liberty Bell ring?
b)     It rang to tell people that a new independent country had been born;
6.     When was the flag adopted?
a)     In 1777;
7.     What colour are the stars on the USA flag?
c)     White;
8.     What colour is the background of the USA flag?
d)    Deep blue.
9.     How does Flag Day begin in the USA?
c)     With raising the flag;
10.   What did American colonists struggle with in the War of Independence?
b)     Britain;
 
 
Text2
 
Lapland is not a recognized country. It is a large area north of the Arctic Circle made up
of sections of Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia. It has no government of its own. In this flat,
almost treeless land where the sun does set for three months of the year, where it never rises for
another three months, the Lapp herdsman and his reindeer live much as they have lived for
hundreds of years. The Lapps originally came from east of the Urals, in Russia. A few thousand
years later they were followed by the Finns. Being more advanced culturally, the Finns gradually
forced the Lapps further into the icy waters of northern Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia.
The four groups of Lapps are closely connected racially, wear similar costumes and live, as they
have for many centuries, almost whole on the reindeer.
Each of the three Scandinavian countries has respected the unique, almost stone age culture.
At the same time they have developed very much along their own lives.

1.     What kind of country is Lapland?

c)     Not recognized;
2.     Where is it situated?
a)     To the north of the Arctic Circle;
3.     Why isn't it a country in the full sense of the word?   
b)     It has no government;
4.     What kind of land is it?
d)    Almost treeless, flat,
5.     How long doesn't the sun set there? 
b)     3 months;
6.     What people live in this land?
a)     Lapps;  

7.     Where did the Lapps come from originally?

d)    From the Urals.
8.     When were they followed by the Firms?
b)     A few thousand years later;
9.     What do Finns and Lapps share?
b)     Common style of dress;
10.   What culture do the Lapps have?
c)     Almost stone age; 
 
Text 3
 
George Washington, who was the first President of the United States, was a wise man.
Once a certain neighbor of his stole one of Washington's horses. Washington together with a
police officer went to the neighbor’s farm to get the horse. But the neighbor refused to give the
horse up; he claimed that it was his own. Covering both of the horse's eyes with his hands,
Washington said to the neighbor. "If the horse is really yours, you must tell us in which eye he is
blind".
"In the right eye", the neighbor said.
Washington took his hand from the right eye of the horse and showed the police officer that the
horse was not blind in the right eye. "Oh, I must have made a mistake", the neighbor said, "He is
blind in the left eye". Washington then showed that the horse was not blind in the left eye either.
"I guess I have made another mistake", said the neighbor. ""yes", said the police officer, "and
you have also proved that the horse does not belong to you. You must return it to Mr.
Washington ".
 
1.   What was G. Washington?
c)     The first American President;
2.        Who stole one of Washington's horses?
b)     His neighbor;
3.     Who went to the neighbor’s farm to get the horse?
b)     A police officer and G. Washington;
4.     What did the neighbor claim?
c)     That it was his own;
5.     How did Washington act to prove that the horse was his?
b)     He examined his ears;
6.     What was the fanner's first mistake?
c)     He said the horse was blind in the right eye;
7.     What was the farmer's second mistake?
c)     He said the horse was blind in the left eye;
8.     What did the officer think on the case?
c)     That the horse belonged to Washington;
9.     What did the officer tell the neighbor?
a)     To return the horse to G. Washington;
10.   What kind of a man did G. Washington prove to be?
b)     Wise;.
 
Text 4
 
Charles Chaplin made his name before the First World War long before radio and
television. His autobiography recalls a childhood passed in wretched London streets. When
Chaplin arrived in America in 1913 to one of Fred Karno's music hall companies, he was known
as a talented ambitious young comedian. These qualities landed him a job with the Keystone
Film Company. In his first film he appeared as an aggressive man in a broken silk hat. Yet for his
second film, in which he played a fool, he wore the costume, he was to retain almost without
changes for the next 22 years.
In time Chaplin became his own writer, director and producer. It gave him a possibility to
broaden and deepen the characters, which began to wake not only laughter but tears, his
inventions proved phenomenal. In two years between 1916 and 1918 he made 14 films — each
one a masterpiece.
With "Modern Times" Chaplin's work took a new turn. It was often his fondest admirers, who
were the least forgiving of what they saw as a change in Chaplin. They accused him of
overstepping his limits, of forgetting he was a clown.
 
1.   When did Ch. Chaplin make himself a name?
b)     Before the First World War;
2.     Where did he spend his childhood?
a)     In London;
3.     What was he in 1913?
b)     A talented young actor;
4.     What was his first job in the USA?
c)     With the Keystone Film Company;
5.     What kind of a man did Charlie Chaplin play in his first film?
a)     Aggressive;  
6.     Whom did he play in his second film?
c)     A fool;
7.     What hadn't Ch. Chaplin changed for the 22 years?
d)    His costume.
8.     How many films were made in two years between 1916 and 1918?
c)     14; 
9.     What happened after Ch. Chaplin's film "Modern Times"?
c)     His work took a new turn;
10.   Who was the least forgiving because of his change?
d)    His fondest admirers.