4TH YEAR

EXAM

1) Read the text and answer the questions.

Vic Arucana finds out more about the teen girl skateboarding scene

Recently I met 25-years-old Elsa Dakota at a skate park in California. Elsa started skateboarding
when she was just 12 years old. Her uncle gave her a skateboard as a present. “I jumped on it at
the park with some friend and I knew that´s what I wanted to do! I felt so free,” she says. A couple of
years later, she was skating in her local park when she saw an advertisement for a competition. She
entered and won! “Then it al happened really fast,” remembers Elsa. “I became a professional
skateboarder at 15! It was a really exciting time for me – you know, more competitions, more
training …” Did she have any problems? “We were good,” says Elsa, “but it was difficult. As girls, we
were trying to join in and do well in something that was mainly for boys, and the boys earned more
prize money. It´s different now and girls have their own competitions. It´s great!
Later in the day young Helene Gallin, 15, joined us before her lesson with Elsa. What is her opinion
on the world of skateboarding for girls? “It used to be hard,” says Helene, “but it´s better now
because it´s easy for girls to take part in competitions, and we´re encouraged a lot more too. I think
a lot of things are easier for girls now.” She continues, “nowadays there are even girls-only events
and that is a big change! Skateboarding for girls is here to stay.” Go girls!

1. In the past, boys received

a. Bigger prizes than girls.
b. Less money than girls.
2. Elsa Dakota started skateboarding because
a. A family member gave her a present.
b. Her friends invited her to go skateboarding with them.
3. After Elisa won her first competition
a. She started to teach younger children to skateboard.
b. She started to earn money from skateboarding.
4. Why were there difficulties for her?
a. She was doing something that was generally for boys.
b. She hurt herself a lot.
5. What does Helene Gallin think about girls skateboarding?
a. Many girls aren´t very keen on skateboarding.
b. It has a future because more girls are taking it up.
6. What big change do Elsa and Helene talk about?
a. There are competitions that are just for girls.
b. More people take part in competitions.
2) Complete the story with the Past Simple or Past Continuous form of the verbs in brackets.

Last summer, I was living (live) in Hawaii. One Saturday morning, I ____________________ (wake
up) early, and it ______________ (be) a beautiful day. The sun _________________ (shine), and I
____________________ (feel) really happy. I _______________ (not need) to go to work that day,
so I ____________________ (decide) to go surfing. Most of my friends _____________________
(work) and my girlfriend ________________ (visit) her grandparents, so I
_______________________ (go) to the beach alone. When I ___________________ (arrive), the
beach ___________________ (be) already crowded. A lot of people ____________________
(sunbathe), children ______________________ (play) and people _____________________
(swim) in the sea. Everyone __________________ (enjoy) the lovely summer day. I
__________________ (put) my things down on the beach, and then I __________________
(begin) walking to the sea with my surfboard. Suddenly, a man ___________________ (shout),
“Shark! Shark! Get out of the water!” At first, I _________________ (not can) see anything, but then
I ____________________ (see) a big shark. Luckily, it ____________________ (not attack) anyone
and ____________________ (swim) away quickly. I ___________________ (not stay) at the beach
after that, and I ___________________ (go) home without going surfing!

3) Choose the correct word.

1. I can´t do this test. It´s too/enough difficult!

2. She wants to buy this dress, but she hasn´t got too/enough money!
3. You need another computer. This one isn´t fast too/enough.
4. My little brother can´t lift this bag because it´s too/enough heavy.
5. Nobody can solve the problem because it is too/enough complicated.

4) Complete the email with the comparative or superlative form, adding (not) as … as, or less
where necessary. You can use the adjectives more than once.