PART 3

My first trip to Greece, by Steve Diamond

Many years ago, I went to Greece on a short work experience program with my friend
Jamie. We had both just finished university and we didn’t really know what to do with
our lives. So, we jumped on a plane to the island of Crete, Greece’s largest island which
rests in the Aegean Sea.

When we arrived in Heraklion, the capital of Crete, we were welcomed by Irena and
Jacob Lambraiki, the owners of the school where we had been hired to teach English
classes to Greek children. They showed us to our flat and then, they brought us to a
good Greek restaurant. I ate ‘spanakopita’ which is a spinach and cheese pie, and we
also had a Greek salad. Most of the dishes were made with natural ingredients and
they were very tasty.

The next day, we started teaching our first classes to Greek students. My students
were between 11 and 15 years of age. I was surprised by how funny and smart the kids
were. During the course, I tried to teach them English while they taught me all about
Greek culture. I learned about Greek food, music, landscape and I even learned some
Greek words. At the weekends, we visited ancient sights and swam in the perfect blue
sea. I was amazed by the clean, white houses and lovely beaches. By the end of the
work experience, I had fallen in love with Crete but to my disappointment, I had to
return home for another job. Greece will always be very special in my memory.

1. What is the writer trying to do in this text?

A. Give advice about places to visit in Greece
B. Tell a story about his trip abroad
C. Explain how to get a job teaching English
D. Present the good and bad points of a work abroad experience

2. What does the writer say about Greek food?

A. He didn’t eat enough food to have an opinion about it.
B. He learned how to make Spanakopita and Moussaka.
C. Moussaka and Spanakopita are the best dishes in Greece.
D. Greek food is natural and delicious.
3. What surprised the writer about the kids at the school?
A. Their ability to speak English.
B. Their knowledge of Greek.
C. Their kindness to help him.
D. Their intelligence and sense of humour.

4. How did the writer feel about leaving Greece?

A. He had mixed feelings.
B. He was happy to leave Greece.
C. He was angry about leaving Greece.
D. He felt sad about leaving Greece.

5. Which message do you think Steve sent to his mother from Greece?
A. Hi Mom, It’s been fun learning Greek but I’m ready to come home. See you soon!
Steve
B. Mum, even though it was difficult here because of the students, I don’t want to
come home yet. What should I do? Steve
C. Hey Mum, I’ve had a lovely time in Crete. Let’s bring the whole family here next
year! See you soon, Steve
D. Hello Mom, I’ve decided to stay in Greece for another year. I’ll let you know what
happens, Steve
PART 4

Jane had always lived in the city, amidst the hustle and bustle of tall skyscrapers and
busy streets. Growing up in such a fast-paced environment had its benefits. 16 _.
However, she was increasingly tired of everything around her: the noise, the traffic,
the stress.

Everything changed when she visited her grandparents in the countryside one
summer. Walking through the vast green fields, listening to the gentle chirping of the
birds, and feeling the cool breeze on her face was a refreshing experience. 17 _.

By the end of her stay, Jane found herself contemplating a life outside the city. She felt
an unusual connection to nature and started exploring the idea of permanently moving
to a rural area. Six months later, Jane made up her mind and decided to leave her city
apartment. 18 _. Her friends thought she was making a hasty decision, but she felt it
was the right choice for her.

Now, living in the countryside, she has her own garden and even a few farm
animals. 19 _. There’s a sense of community she had never experienced before. While
she occasionally misses the convenience of city life, the natural beauty and calmness of
her new surroundings more than make up for it. 20 _. She often jokes that the only
traffic she encounters now are the sheep crossing the road.

A. The peace and quiet were in complete contrast to the noisy city life she was
accustomed to.

B. She secured a job in a local school and rented a small cottage by the river.

C. She spends her mornings tending to her plants and feeding the chickens.

D. Many nights, she found herself looking at the starlit sky from her bedroom window.

E. There were always things to do, places to visit.

F. But the constant noise and chaos often left her feeling exhausted.

G. She loves visiting the local farmer's market on weekends.

H. The people living there seemed content and relaxed.

PART 6

Australia's wildlife is quite different to animals in the rest of the

world 27 Australia is far and isolated from many other countries. Some of
these animals live in protected national parks, 28 the platypus, the kangaroo
and the koala. The platypus looks like a duck but has a tail and soft brown fur. It
spends most of its time in rivers, searching for food. The baby platypus grows in an
egg, but it drinks milk from the mother as it grows.
29 are four types of kangaroos in Australia. The Eastern Grey and Red
kangaroos are larger, approximately two meters in height. However, the Red kangaroo
is the heaviest, with around 90 kilos average weight. This kangaroo lives in a very dry
region in New South Wales. The Eastern Grey is found in Queensland and Victoria.
30 smallest and lightest kangaroo is the Antilopine which weighs about 38
kilos. We find this animal in Northern Australia, where it enjoys grassy plains and
forests. 31 is about 1 meter in height. The Western Grey Kangaroo, a little
larger at 1.2 meters, is found in the Darling River Basin as it prefers the forest and
coast. The Western Grey kangaroo 32 54 kilos in weight.