ENT001

READING ASSIGNMENT

READING PASSAGE 1
Read the passage and answer the following questions.

HAMBURGER HOUSE
Summer Special Offer!
That’s right, we bring back our annual Summer Special Offer here at Hamburger
House.
* Buy two juicy hamburgers à get one hamburger free!
* Buy two giant cheeseburgers à get one cheeseburger and one drink free!
* Cool off with a Mountain Milkshake (Caramel or Raspberry) for only $1.50 or a
Glacier Sundae (Blueberry or Double Chocolate) for only $2.50.
The Summer Special Offer will last all summer, from June 1st to August 31st!

Question 1: What kind of the passage is it?

a. It’s a piece of news. b. It’s an advertisement
c. It’s a short story. d. It’s a song.
Question 2: Hamburger House is a _________.
a. someone’s family b. library
c. store d. cinema
Question 3: If you buy two giant cheeseburgers, what do you get free?
a. two hamburgers and a drink b. one cheeseburger and one drink
c. two cheeseburgers and a drink d. one cheeseburgers and two drinks
Question 4: How long does the offer last?
a. All year b. All month
c. Three months d. Three weeks
Question 5: How often does this special offer happen?
a. twice a year b. once a month
c. once a week d. every year
1
 READING PASSAGE 2
Read the chart and letter, then answer the following questions .

WANTED: A Chinese Tutor

My husband, two children, and I need a Chinese teacher because we are moving to Hong Kong next
summer. The teacher must come for one hour on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday evenings. We have
some background in Chinese vocabulary and grammar, so we need to focus our classes on writing and
conversation. We are willing to pay $20 an hour to the right person. Email Deb at
chinafan@mailnet.com.

To: chinafan@mailnet.com
From: lilywong@chinmail.net
Subject: Tutor
Date: August 30th

Dear Deb,
I am a Chinese teacher from Hong Kong. I am now a student here in New Zealand. I taught Chinese in
my home country, so I have a lot of experience. I am free every evening. I am very interested in meeting
you and your family.
Please call me on 09-993-444
Lily Wong

Question 1: Who wrote the advertisement?

a. The husband b. The wife c. The children d. The teacher
Question 2: Why do they need a teacher?
a. They are moving to another country. b. They are taking a trip to Hong Kong.
c. They are Chinese. d. They have two children.
Question 3: How much do they want to pay per week?
a. $20 b. $30 c. $40 d. $60
Question 4: What did Lily Wong do before she moved to New Zealand?
a. She was a student. b. She was a teacher.
c. She was free every evening. d. She lived in Hong Kong.
Question 5: How long do they study in an evening?
a. 20 minutes b. 30 minutes c. 45 minutes d. 60 minutes

2
READING PASSAGE 3
Read the note and answer the following questions.
Andrea,
This note is just to remind you of what needs to be done today. I’m very busy from
early this morning until late in the afternoon, so I don’t have time to do all this.
1. Wash the car
2. Mail this letter
3. Pay the gas bill
4. Pick up my clothes from the dry cleaner’s
5. Return the videos we watched last night
6. Make a pizza for dinner tonight
Thanks so much!
Casey

Question 1: Where will Andrea probably NOT go?

a. To the post office b. To the theater
c. To the dry cleaner d. To the car wash
Question 2: Why does Casey ask Andrea to do these things?
a. Because he's tired b. Because he's sick
c. Because he goes on vacation d. Because he's busy
Question 3: Which of the following does Andrea NOT do?
a. water flowers in the garden b. wash their car
c. send a letter d. take dry clothes home from a store
Question 4: What will they have for dinner tonight?
a. burger b. pasta
c. pizza d. noodles
Question 5: What does Andrea have to pay?
a. electricity bill b. video bill
c. pizza bill d. gas bill
READING PASSAGE 4
Read the chart and answer the following questions.

Name Height Weight

John 178 cm 65 kg
Andy 175 cm 67 kg
Scott 181 cm 79 kg
Bill 179 cm 77 kg

3
 John and his three friends decided to join the army. When they went to the army office, the army
doctor began checking their height and weight. John was a bit embarrassed because he was thin
and weighed only 65 kg. Andy was also embarrassed because he was the shortest. After the
doctor’s check-up, the boys began training.
Question 1: Who was the heaviest?
a. John b. Andy c. Scott d. Bill
Question 2: Who was the tallest?
a. John b. Andy c. Scott d. Bill
Question 3: Who checked their height?
a. John b. Andy c. Scott d. The doctor
Question 4: Who was embarrassed?
a. John and Scott b. Bill and Scott
c. Andy and the doctor d. Andy and John
Question 5: Why did John and his friends go for a check-up?
a. Because John was sick b. Because they were sick
c. Because they wanted to join the army d. Because John is a doctor
READING PASSAGE 5
Read the poster and email, then answer the following questions.

JOIN OUR CLUB!

Do you like to act, sing, and dance? Would you like to meet a new group of friends as dramatic as
you are? If so, then please join our performers’ club. We meet every Wednesday evening from seven
o’clock to nine o’clock at the Clark City Community Center. We can promise you a great night!
Everyone is welcome. We look forward to seeing you there! Email us at performclub@stagenet.com.

To: performclub@stagenet.com
From: MGreen@happnet.net
Subject: Performers’ club
Date: September 13th

I would like to join the performers’ club because I love singing, acting, and dancing. However, I am
worried that my singing and dancing are not good enough. Is it OK to join if I am not very good?
Please let me know.

Thank you,
Mary Green

4
Question 1: Who can join the performers' club?
a. Anyone b. Only men c. Only women d. No one
Question 2: How long do club meetings last?
a. Once a week b. Two hours c. At seven o'clock d. On Wednesday evening
Question 3: How often do they meet?
a. Everyday b. Three times a week c. Twice a week d. Once a week
Question 4: Why is Mary Green worried?
a. She can't find the community center. b. She is not a good singer.
c. She is very dramatic. d. She is not good at meeting new people.
Question 5: How can you contact the club?
a. make a phone call b. write a letter
c. go to the club d. send an email

READING PASSAGE 6
Read the passage and choose the correct answers.
Of all my relatives, I like my aunt Emily the best. She is my mother’s youngest sister. She has
never married, and she lives alone in a small village near Bath. She is in her late fifties, but she is
still quite young in spirit. She has a fair complexion, thick brown hair which she wears in a bun,
and dark brown eyes. She has a kind face, and when you meet her, the first thing you notice is
her lovely, warm smile. Her face is a little wrinkled now, but I think she is still attractive. She is
the sort of person you can always go to if you have a problem.
She likes reading and gardening, and she goes for long walks over the hill with her dog, Buster.
She is a very active person.
1. Of all my relatives, I like my _________ the best.
A. aunt B. uncle C. sister D. mother
2. She’s about _________ years old.
A. 30 B. 40 C. 50 D. 58
3. She has a _________ smile.
A. lovely B. warm C. cold D. lovely and warm
4. I think my aunt is a/an _________ person.
A. old B. active C. bad D. young
5. She_________ dogs.
A. likes B. doesn’t like C. hates D. can’t stand

READING PASSAGE 7
5
Read the passage and choose the correct answers.
Yesterday a friend and I went to a Chinese teahouse for lunch. We got there at about ten minutes
past twelve. The teahouse was not very crowded, so we did not have any trouble getting a table.
As soon as we sat down, a waiter came over to our table and asked us what kind of tea we
wanted. A minute later, he came back with a pot of jasmine tea. He also brought us a menu so
that we could choose the dishes for our lunch.
After thinking for a while, we ordered fried rice and beef with vegetables, noodles with prawn
and fried noodle with pork. The dishes were really big but we were able to finish everything. The
only problem was that we were so full when we finished that we could hardly walk.

1. They went to a _________.

A. restaurant B. cafeteria C. hotel D. teahouse
2. When did they go there?
A. last night B. 2 days ago C. yesterday D. 10 o’clock
3. The teahouse was_________ when they came.
A. very crowded B. very quiet C. quiet D. not very crowded
4. The waiter asked them what kind of_________ they wanted.
A. tea B. wine C. food D. juice
5. They had _________ food.
A. a little B. some C. a lot of D. many
READING PASSAGE 8
Fill each of the numbered blanks of the following passage with ONE suitable word chosen
from the list.

trip benefits keeping interesting

hobbies healthier enjoy some

WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY?

Hobbies are things people like doing in their free time. Everyone has their own (1)
____________. Our hobbies will bring us a lot of (2) ___________. They make us relaxed, (3)
________ and do our work best. Like any other people, I have my own hobbies. I love listening
to music, watching TV and travelling. I often watch TV every day to get news and some (4)
_____________information around the world. After school, I often listen to soft music to
refresh my mind.

6
Whenever I have a long holiday weekend, I often make a (5) ___________ or go sightseeing
with my classmates or my family to (6) ________ the landscapes. That’s very fantastic. In the
future I will try (7) _______ new hobbies such as collecting stamps or (8) ___________a pet.

READING PASSAGE 9
Fill each of the numbered blanks of the following passage with ONE suitable word chosen
from the list.

building bedroom washing- machine kitchen wardrobe

air-conditioner spacious future having balcony

MY DREAM HOUSE
Have you ever imagined (1) _____________ your dream house? My dream house is a big (2)
_________ that is not far from the sea. It will have a living room, a kitchen, three bedrooms and
two bathrooms. There will be a (3) ___________ with a view of the sea. There is a garden in
front of my house with many kinds of roses. I want to have a big living room, a kitchen, three
bedrooms and two bathrooms. In the living room, there are a table, four chairs, a television and
an (4) ____________. My (5) __________ is very nice. There are a computer, a bed, a lamp and
two pictures on the wall and a bookshelf above the table, some teddy bears on the bed and a (6)
_________. The (7) __________has a refrigerator, a stove and a sink. Next to the kitchen is the
bathroom. It has a shower, a (8) ________and a tub. I love my dream house very much. It is
really beautiful and (9) _________. I will try my best to get my dream house in the (10)
____________.

READING PASSAGE 10
Read the passage and choose the correct answers.
JAKE LONDON’S TOUR BUS
I’m a musician. I play the guitar and sing. I travel quite a bit with my band, so my other
home is a big bus. There’s a kitchen and a bathroom on the bus. There’s a small living room
with a TV. There are six beds on the bus, one for each person in the band!

MARIA MILLER’S HOTEL ROOM

I’m a flight attendant. Because of my job, I stay in the hotel a lot. The hotel rooms usually
have a big bed, a small kitchen, and a desk. So, hotel rooms are my “other homes”. I always
bring a few personal items when I travel for work. I take a nice dress, a few T-shirts, and my
favorite jeans. I take a small pillow, and I always take a good book. I’m usually in one place
7
only for a day, so I can put my things away in five minutes.

TOM AND RIANA PETERSON’S VIRTUAL HOUSE

Our “other home’ isn’t real! We love computer games. We play a game on our computer in
virtual world. We have avatars in this virtual world, and they have a home! Our real home is
a small apartment, but the virtual home is big. In the virtual home, our avatars do the
household chores. They clean up the rooms, put away the dishes, and take the garbage out.
The virtual house is very clean, but our real home is a mess.
1. What does Jake do?
A. He is a flight attendant. B. He is a computer programmer.
C. He is a musician. D. He is a gamester.
2. What does Maria do?
A. She is a writer. B. She is a flight attendant.
C. She is a hotelkeeper. D. She is a receptionist.
3. How much time is Maria usually in one place?
A. 2 days B. in five minutes C. long time D. a day
4. Who does the household chores in Tom and Riana’s virtual home?
A. Tom B. Riana C. no one D. Avatars
5. Which statement is NOT TRUE?
A. Jake’s other home is a bus.
B. Maria Miller’s other home is the hotel rooms.
C. Tom and Riana Peterson used to live in a virtual house.
D. Three people describe their “other homes” in the article.

READING PASSAGE 11
Read the passage and answer the following questions.

Three American Festivals

Burning Man

Burning Man is an event that started in 1986 in Black Rock City, Nevada. People go to the desert
and build a giant community for nine days. At the end of the festival, they burn a giant wooden
statue of a man. That’s where the name comes from. The festival celebrates inclusion,
community, and responsibility. Everyone should share their talents so others can enjoy them for
free. It is now also very popular with young influencers on social media and other famous
people.
8
The Taste of Buffalo

The Taste of Buffalo in Buffalo, New York, is the largest 2-day food festival in the country
every year. Nearly half a million people visit the festival to eat food from over 50 restaurants.
There are over 200 different dishes to try! Most of the food is from regional restaurants, and it is
a great family event. You can listen to live music from 2 stages, walk through the parks and
downtown as well as participate in a lot of different family-friendly activities.

National Cherry Blossom Festival

The National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington D.C. is a spring event that remembers the
gift of cherry trees from Japan to the USA in 1912. The trees were a present from the mayor of
Tokyo to the mayor of Washington DC. The first celebration was in 1934. There is a parade
every year with large balloons, marching bands from all over the country, and concerts. There
are also a lot of different shows and events, such as a kite flying festival, a 10-mile run, and
fireworks at night.

1. _______celebrates friendship between cities?

a.Burning Man
b.The Taste of Buffalo
c.The National Cherry Blossom Festival
2. _______probably is a family event?

a.Burning Man
b.The Taste of Buffalo
c.The National Cherry Blossom Festival
3._______ attracts people who like doing a lot of different things?
a.Burning Man
b.The Taste of Buffalo
c.The National Cherry Blossom Festival
4._______is the biggest of its kind?
a.Burning Man
b.The Taste of Buffalo
c.The National Cherry Blossom Festival
5. _______is mostly a local event?

9
a.Burning Man
b.The Taste of Buffalo
c.The National Cherry Blossom Festival
6. _______is most popular on social media?
a.Burning Man
b.The Taste of Buffalo
c.The National Cherry Blossom Festival
7. _______has musicians walking and playing in the street?
a.Burning Man
b.The Taste of Buffalo
c.The National Cherry Blossom Festival

READING PASSAGE 12
Read the passage and answer the following questions .
Tips for travelling alone

Travelling alone seems scary if it’s the first time you are going to leave the comfort of home.
You will probably think about the potential risks or difficult situations. What happens if I get ill,
or have an accident? Isn’t it dangerous to go out alone at night? What happens if I get attacked?
Isn’t it strange to eat at restaurants alone all the time?

Most travellers have these worries and more before their first trip alone, but all these fears
disappear when they see all the benefits of this great experience. Here I’m going to give you 3
tips on how to travel alone and have a good time.

Speak the language

Humans are sociable creatures. We all need to talk to other people. If you are travelling alone,
it’s a good idea to go somewhere you speak the language.

Sleep with the locals

Hotels are comfortable but very lonely, and hostels are perfect for people who travel alone, but
you will only speak with other tourists. Try to rent a room in an apartment. This will give you a
connection with local residents and they can give you a lot of tips on what you can do.

Don’t be shy
Don’t be afraid of asking. Ask for directions in the street, or ask about the place, the culture or
the customs to the local people that you find in bars, parks, etc. You will be surprised how much

10
people like to talk about their town or their culture. Remember you are alone. Asking can be an
effective way to start a conversation and meet new people.

1. The writer thinks that travelling alone is _______.

a.worse than staying at your comfortable home.
b.dangerous.
c.a good idea.
2. The writer wants to _______.

a.help people who want to travel alone.

b.talk about the possible risks of travelling alone.
c.talk about his or her experiences travelling
3. If you travel alone, it’s a good idea _______.

a.to learn the language of the place before you go there.

b.to go to a place where you can speak their language.
c.to speak to other tourists.
4. The writer thinks that if you travel alone, hostels are _______.

a.the best option.

b.very good but not the best option.
c.worse than hotels.
5. The local residents can help you _______.

a.to find a good hotel or hostel.

b.giving you ideas for your trip.
c.to find a cheap room that you can rent.
6. The best thing about asking is that_______.

a.you get the information you need.

b.you can find the places where you are going.
c.you can talk to the local people.
READING PASSAGE 13
Read the passage and answer the following questions.
Going to the Mall

Every city in the USA has a mall or four. There are about 1,100 malls in the US. These giant
store-filled buildings are one of America’s greatest entertainment options for teens and families.

11
Mall of America in Minnesota is the largest mall. It is so big that it has an amusement park in it,
Nickelodeon Universe, with several roller coasters! There are more than 500 stores in it, about
400,000m2 and about 12,000 people work there.

But malls nowadays aren’t the same as they used to be in the 80s and 90s. During those decades,
teens would go to the mall and spend hours shopping, playing video games at the arcade, or just
hanging out with friends. It was cool in the summer and warm in the winter. In those days, malls
provided the perfect source of shopping and entertainment for entire families.

Nowadays, you can still eat in the food court and go to the movies, but there aren’t many arcades
left. Millennials have their Xboxes or Ps4s, and they like shopping online, which is also
happening with more and more people from other generations. And as more people shop online
and play video games at home, fewer people go to the mall to hang out.

Hopefully, malls will remain one of the great American pastimes. But only time will tell how
people in the future will prefer to spend their time.

1. People like malls because _______

a.it is a fun place to be.

b.it’s cheap.
c.there are so many of them.
2. Why is the Mall of America so famous?

a.Because it’s the official Mall of the country.

b.Because it’s in Minnesota.
c.Because of its size.
3. What can’t people do at malls very much anymore?

a.Hang out with friends.

b.Play video games.
c.Go for lunch
4. Malls nowadays ____ than in the past.

a.are bigger
b.are more popular
c.have fewer entertainment options
5. Why are malls dying?

12
a.People prefer other options.
b.They are too expensive.
c.They aren’t entertaining.
6. The future of malls _____

a.is going to get better.

b.is certainly going to be bad.
c.is uncertain.

READING PASSAGE 14
Read the passage and answer the following questions .
A trip around the USA

Dear Family,

Everything has been so much fun here in the US. I am sorry that it has taken me so long to write.
When we arrived yesterday, we immediately went to our hotel in New York City, took showers,
and began our sightseeing trip! We saw the Statue of Liberty, Wall Street, and Times Square, all
in just one day.

Unfortunately, we could only spend that one day in New York because we had to take the train
to see the Niagara Falls. I am riding the train now as I write. We should arrive in a few hours. I
think we’ll go straight to bed as it will be past midnight when we arrive.

After Niagara Falls, we’re going to visit Toronto in Canada as it is only a little further north. I’ve
never been to Canada, so that will be exciting. From Toronto, we’re going to take a flight to Los
Angeles. That’s where we’re going to stay for the rest of the trip. I think Sam wants to go to
Disneyland, so I’m sure we’ll do that. And of course, we’re going to surf in the Pacific Ocean!

I will try to write again soon, but we are doing so much that I can’t make any promises. Take
care.

We love you both,

Francis and Sam

1. Francis forgot to write because the trip was too long.

A. True
B. False

13
2. Francis isn’t happy about only spending one day in New York City.
A. True
B. False
3. They get off the train very late at night.
A. True
B. False
4. They are going to visit another country apart from the USA.
A. True
B. False
5. Francis really wants to go to an amusement park.
A. True
B. False
6. Francis will certainly write again.
A. True
B. False

READING PASSAGE 15
Read the passage and answer the following questions.
Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is celebrated in the USA on the 4th Thursday of November. The tradition comes
from the first people to arrive from England to North America. The Native Americans taught
them to grow food and hunt, and the pilgrims invited the Native Americans for a dinner after the
harvest. This was the first Thanksgiving in common folklore.

Nowadays, Thanksgiving is the country’s largest secular holiday and represents a time when
friends and family get together for a large turkey dinner. Traditionally people make stuffing,
mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, sweet potatoes, and pumpkin pie to go with the huge roast
turkey.

In the morning, there is a massive parade in NYC called the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade,
which has a lot of giant balloons, famous people, and marching bands. In the afternoon, people
watch American football games. There is usually one game in the afternoon and one in the
evening.

Thanksgiving also marks the unofficial beginning of the Holiday season in America. The Friday
after Thanksgiving, which is the following day, is black Friday and has a lot of crazy sales. Also,

14
it is traditional to start putting up Christmas decorations after Thanksgiving if your family
celebrates Christmas.

1. The first Thanksgiving was a way to say thank you from the English to the Native
Americans.
A. True
B. False
2. Native Americans and Pilgrims ate together at the first Thanksgiving.
A. True
B. False
3. The first Thanksgiving was in New York City.
A. True
B. False
4. People enjoy playing football after eating.

A. True
B. False
5. You can find big sales the Friday before Thanksgiving.
A. True
B. False
6. You aren’t supposed to decorate for the holidays before Thanksgiving.
A. True
B. False

READING PASSAGE 16
Read the passage and answer the following questions.
What do you do with your free time?

I’m almost 19 years old, and I finished my first year of university. I’m currently on holiday, and
I have a lot of free time. Having free time is nice, but the problem is that when you are a student,
you never have money. And when you have a lot of free time, but you don’t have much money,
it can get boring.

Every morning I go to the gym, and I read in the afternoons. But I still have a lot of free time.
Going to the gym takes me about two hours, including the road time and the post-gym shower.
And I usually read for one hour. Another activity that I do is watch documentaries. I study

15
 history, and I love historical documentaries. I learn a lot from them. I watch documentaries for
one and a half hours four or five times a week.

But those activities are a small part of my day. When I’m not at the gym or reading, I get bored,
and I often play video games for hours. I enjoy playing video games, but I don’t think it’s a
productive activity. When I play for a long time, I feel bad. I’d like to find more productive
activities to do, but it isn’t easy. I live in a small town, and there aren’t many things to do.

Do you have any suggestions? What do you do with your free time?

1. He ________

a.is working.
b.is not a student.
c.is 18 years old.
2. He ________

a.doesn't have free time.

b.is travelling.
c.doesn't have money.
3. He ________

a.is very happy because he has a lot of free time.

b.is not happy because he doesn't have any free time.
c.is sometimes bored.
4. Every day, he ________

a.watches documentaries.
b.goes to the gym.
c.reads for two hours.
5. He ________

a.teaches history.
b.studies history at university.
c.reads history books four or five times a week.
6. He ________

a.does not enjoy playing video games.

b.thinks video games are stupid.
16
c.doesn't think playing video games is productive.
7. He wants ________

a.to do more productive things in his free time.

b.to live in a big city.
c.to find a job.

READING PASSAGE 17
Read the text about three famous people’s first jobs and for questions 1 to 6, choose the
correct answer.
Famous people’s first jobs

Not all famous people were born into famous families. A lot of them had normal lives before
becoming famous. They also had jobs like the rest of us. Here are just a few:

Former President Obama worked at an ice-cream parlour selling ice-cream cones. He was in high
school in Honolulu, Hawaii and said it was quite hard. He also said that the job taught him about
responsibility, hard work and how to spend time with work, friends and family.

Brad Pitt had a weird job when he was younger. He worked as a chicken! That’s right. He
worked at a restaurant called El Pollo Loco in Hollywood, and his job was to dress up like a
chicken and wave at the cars on the road. In fact, if you go on a “See the Stars” tour in
Hollywood, many of them will take you past the same restaurant where Brad used to work.

Maybe the strangest path in life was that of Pope Francis. When he was young in Argentina, he
worked several jobs before joining the Jesuits and dedicating his life to religion. He worked as a
cleaner sweeping floors, a chemical tester at a laboratory and as a bouncer at a bar! Yes, the pope
was the person responsible for security at a bar in case anything wrong happened. Can you
imagine?

1. Who helped protect people?

a.President Obama
b.Brad Pitt
c.Pope Francis
2. Who pretended to be an animal?

a.President Obama
b.Brad Pitt
17
c.Pope Francis
3. Who learned a lot from their first job?
a.President Obama
b.Brad Pitt
c.Pope Francis
4. Who worked in advertising?
a.President Obama
b.Brad Pitt
c.Pope Francis
5. Who thought the job was difficult?
a.President Obama
b.Brad Pitt
c.Pope Francis
6. Who had a couple of different jobs?
a.President Obama
b.Brad Pitt
c.Pope Francis

READING PASSAGE 18
Read the text about Black Friday and for questions 1 to 5, choose the correct option.
Black Friday

The day after Thanksgiving has become America’s biggest shopping day. Closed all day on
Thursday, shopping centres all across the nation open early on Friday. Some of them open at
12:01 Friday morning, while others open at 4 a.m. Some “sleepyhead“ shopping centres, like
Target this year, don’t open their doors on Friday until 6 a.m. From Friday to the day before
Christmas, this is the season when businesses make nearly 25 per cent of what they earn in a
year. This season puts many businesses “in the black”, that is, they make the money they need
for the year.

Reporters from local TV stations interview people who sleep in tents in front of the shops a day
or two before the doors open on Friday. These people patiently wait in queue to get products that
are 50 per cent cheaper or more.

“Oh, we have fun,” said one of the persons queuing. “We sometimes bring games to play, we
watch TV and order lots of pizza, and we often meet interesting people. And, most important of
all, we save a lot!” The problem, of course, is that only a very small number of products have big
18
reductions in their prices. Apart from a few big discounts, each shop has other things that are
reduced from 10 to 50 per cent, saving shoppers from $10 to $400 per item, and so Americans
want to go shopping.

Not all Americans enjoy shopping. Reverend William Graham wants to change Black Friday’s
name. “We want to call it Remember Jesus Friday. People should start the season with the right
attitude. Christmas has become a Season of Shopping. We want to make it a Season of Giving.
And we don’t mean giving material things. We mean giving your back, your mind, and your
hands. Help an old lady clean up her house. Teach a kid how to read. Visit sick people in the
hospital or in nursing homes. Give food to the Red Cross. Celebrate Christmas by remembering
Jesus and forgetting Santa Claus.”

1. According to the text, the expression “sleepyhead” refers to shops that ____.

a.open later than others

b.open early in the morning
c.don’t open until late in the morning
2. On these days some businesses make ____for the rest of the year.

a.half the money

b.enough money
c.nearly all the sales
3. Which of these sentences is TRUE?

a.Most products are reduced nearly half price.

b.In general, most discounts in prices are quite big.
c.Just a few selected products have large discounts.
4. Reverend William Graham thinks shopping so much at this time of the year ___.

a.is not right

b.is the right attitude
c.needs a new name
5. According to the text, Black Friday is ____.

a.the Friday before Christmas

b.the beginning of a shopping period
c.an important holiday in The United States

19
READING PASSAGE 19
Read the following news and for questions 1 to 5, choose the correct option.
It’s in the news

Texting while walking is dangerous

Writing text messages and walking is dangerous. It is more dangerous than driving and texting.
More people get injured while walking than driving. Walking in a straight line is not easy. We
can forget how to walk properly. Dangerous things can happen. We run into people or cars. We
fall over things in the street.

There are a few reasons why texting and walking is dangerous. People cannot see when they
look at their keyboard. Their minds are somewhere else – they are not thinking about walking
safely. Thousands of people have accidents. Some have serious head injuries.

Too much jogging could be a problem!

Running is good for our health. A recent study says that running too much is bad for us and it
doesn’t always make our lives longer. A specialist said too much running can damage your
heart. Long-distance runners and people who never exercise can have the same risk of having a
heart
attack.

Experts looked at the health of 3,300 runners. Most of them ran over 30 kilometres a week.
Marathon runners had hard parts in their heart. A doctor who started running in 1967 is sad. He
ran 60 kilometres every week. He thought his heart was strong. Now he has heart problems. He
said we should exercise, but not too much.

1. Texting while walking is ...

a.safer than driving and texting

b.worse than driving and texting
c.as dangerous as driving and texting
2. Some people can be hurt in their ...

a.heads
b.backs
c.hands
20
 3. Too much running could make our lives ...

a.safer
b.shorter
c.happier
4. How many runners did the researchers look at?

a.Thirteen hundred
b.Thirty-three thousand
c.Three thousand three hundred
5. A doctor who started running in nineteen sixty-seven ______.
a. is very happy
b.said some exercise is good
c.thought his heart wasn’t strong

READING PASSAGE 20
Read the following news and for questions 1 to 9, choose the correct option.
About my family
Dear Marta,
I’m going to tell you about my family. I live with my little sister, mum, and dad. We live in
London, although I grew up in Lancaster, a beautiful city in the North of England.

My dad’s name is Pierre. He’s from France, and he speaks English and French. When he was
young, my mother went to France on a student exchange, and they met there. A few years later,
my dad moved to England and married my mum. He works as a French teacher. He’s very tall –
much taller than my mum– and athletic. He’s got short blonde hair and blue eyes.

My mum’s name is Anna. She’s English. She’s quite short, and she’s got long curly brown hair
and brown eyes. She works at a chemist’s opposite our home. She can speak French too!

My sister Julia is 18 years old, and she’s got the same color of hair and eyes as my father. She
loves playing the piano and dancing. She’s very talented, and she would like to be a professional
musician.

I’ve got short blonde hair like my dad, but brown eyes like my mom. We all love playing board
games together on Friday evenings, and we always order pizza. Our favourite game is

21
Monopoly. Oh, I almost forgot. We’ve also got a pet cat, Snowball. She’s all white and has got a
lot of fur. She likes sleeping on me.

Write back soon. Please, tell me about your family too.

Love
Jonathan

1. Jonathan was born in London.

a.True
b.False
2. His parents both speak more than one language.
a.True
b.False
3. They got married in France.
a.True
b.False
4. Jonathan's mother is a lot shorter than his father.
a.True
b.False
5. She doesn't work far from home.
a.True
b.False
6. Jonathan's sister has got blue eyes.
a.True
b.False
7. She works as a musician.
a.True
b.False
8. Jonathan's hair is the same colour as his mother's.
a.True
b.False
9. On Fridays, they always eat the same thing.
a.True
b.False

22