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2024

Let’s gain vocabulary togheter

Sara Bouaziz
SaraEnglish1
Let’s gain vocabulary :
Comprehension 1 :

(1) football (soccer in the U.S) is the world's most


popular sport. Today about 3.5 billion people watch
or play football. Football is popular in Europe, Asia,
South, America, South Africa, North America, and
almost everywhere. In a professional football game,
the players run about 8 km.

(2) The world's number two sport is cricket. Cricket is


originally from the U.K but today it is also popular in
Australia, New Zealand, some African countries, and some Caribbean countries. In India and
Pakistan, cricket is most popular than football. About 3 billion people around the world watch or
play cricket each year.

(3) Field hockey is number three. Approximately 2 billion people play or watch field hockey mostly in
Asia, Europe, Australia, and Africa. In the United States, field hockey is mainly for high school girls.
Field hockey is a very old sport. In Egypt, 4000-year-old drawings show people playing field hockey.

(4) Next is tennis. Today, there are roughly 1 billion players and Spectators of tennis around the world.
It is originally from France but today it is very popular in the United States, Asia, Australia, and
Europe.

(5) Table tennis (ping-pong) is popular around the world, with about 900 million players and
Spectators. Today, table tennis especially popular in China, Korea, and Singapore.

(6) There are many popular sports around the world, but these are the top five. What is similar about
all of these Sports is that they are fun, they are fast, and they use a ball. Maybe that is why the
expression “have a ball” means have a lot of fun.

Questions:
A. COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING CHART WITH INFORMATION FROM THE TEXT
Name of sport Number of people (players; spectators)
.............. .................... .............. ....................
.............. .................... .............. ....................
.............. .................... .............. ....................
.............. .................... .............. ....................
.............. .................... .............. ....................

B. ARE THESE STATEMENTS TRUE OR FALSE? JUSTIFY.


1. A professional football player needs to be a good runner.
.................................................................................
2. Field hockey is more popular than cricket.
.................................................................................
C. ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS.
1. What is the origin of cricket?
.................................................................................
2. What does the idiom ‘’have a ball’ mean?
.................................................................................
D. CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORDS TO COMPLETE EACH PARAGRAPH.
approximately - especially - mainly - percent - players – popular
Sports are very. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . at my University. Roughly 20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . of the
students at my school play a sport regularly. That is . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 800 students. Ice hockey is .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . popular this year. 10 years ago, ice hockey was. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . a sport for
men, but today more and more hockey. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . are woman.
Professional – about – similar – rules
Football and field hockey are different in some ways and . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . in other ways. One
important difference is that football is a popular spectator sport, but field hockey isn't. That is
probably why there are few field . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . hockey players. Many of the . . . . . . . . . . . . .
for football and field hockey are also very different. For example, field hockey players can't touch
the ball with their feet, but football players can. In both Sports, however, the players need to be
good Runners. After all, the sizes of a football field and a hockey field are . . . . . . . . . . . . . the same.
E. COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING CHART.
Noun Adjective Adverb
Origin ........................ ....................
Main Main ....................
Rough Rough ....................
Especial ......................
....................... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Similarly
....................... Funny .......................

F. COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING CHART.


Noun Subject pronoun Object pronoun
Sport ..................... .....................
Person ...................... ......................
Sports ...... ................ ......................
People ....................... .......................
Football .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .......................

Now let’s practice: what do the underlined words in the text refer to?
It: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . it: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . they: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
G. COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING PARAGRAPH.
My favourite sport is . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I like it for the following reasons. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
....................................................................................
....................................................................................
....................................................................................
....................................................................................
....................................................................................
....................................................................................
....................................................................................
....................................................................................
Comprehension 2.
(1) It is said that most people have no more than 30 friends at any given time, and 400 over the whole
of their lives. However, on social networking sites, most users have about 150 friends. If these
numbers are correct, then friendship means different things in different situations.

(2) One of the reasons for having more online friends


than real friends at a certain point in time is that
online friendships do not require much time and
energy: it is easy to accept friendships and keep them
forever. Another possibility is that it is difficult to say
'no' when somebody asks us to be their friend online,
even if we feel we don't really know them. The fact
that they ask us suggests that they do consider us a
friend, which is a nice feeling. Alternatively, they may
be 'collectors' of online friends and just want to use
us to get a higher number of friends and appear to be popular.

(3) Online friendships are quite easy, but in the real-world decisions about friendships are harder to
make. There are no rules about friendship. There are no guidelines about how to make friends,
how to keep friendships going, and how to finish friendships if we want to move on. People have
very different opinions about this: some people would die for their friends, and they value them
more than family. Others say that friends are temporary, only there to help each other until they
are no longer needed. If people with such different views become friends, this can lead to
problems.

(4) Because of these different definitions of friendship, it is easy to be unhappy about our friendships.
We may want them to be deeper or closer, or we may want to have more friends in our lives.
Sometimes we simply do not have the time to develop our friendships, or we fear we have left it
too late in life to start. If we move to another country or city, we have to find ways to make new
friends again.
(5) This dissatisfaction shows us how important friendships are for most of us. We should not think
that it could be too late to build friendships. We also need to understand that the need to be
around other people is one that is shared by many. Therefore, we should not be too frightened
about starting to talk to people who in the future may become our friends: it is likely that they too
would like to get closer to us. Remember what people say: strangers are friends we have not met
yet.
Questions:
A. ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS.
1. Why are people likely to have online friends more than real ones?
.............................................................................
2. What makes friendships in real life harder to make?
.............................................................................
B. ARE THESE STATEMENTS TRUE OR FALSE? JUSTIFY.
1. People can have more than 400 real friends at once in their life.
.............................................................................
2. There are strict rules to having friends.
.............................................................................
C. COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING CHART.
Noun Adjective Adverb Verb
Friendship . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Befriend
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Different .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Required Require
Difficulty .................. ..................
Hard ................ .. ..................
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . temporary . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . .
Easiness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ease

D. FILL IN THE GAPS WITH THE APPROPRIATE WORDS FROM THE CHART ABOVE.
It is important to have a . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . in our life because they can help us a lot.
Some people find it d. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . and h . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . to. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . others
because they are shy or introverted. But people who are sociable, make new. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
with others quite e . . . . . . . . . . . . There is a huge. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . between boys and girls
when making new friends because they have d. . . . . .. . . . . . . . . interests. Most of us have
some friends who are. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . like our classmates for example, not all of us keep
in touch with them once we pass the grade.
E. COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING CHART.
Nouns Subject pronoun Object pronoun Possessive adjective
Singular (not human) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Singular (female) .................. ......... ......... ..................
Singular (male) .................. .................. ..................
Plural .................. .................. ..................

Now let’s practice: what do the underlined words in the text refer to?
Their: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . them: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . they: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F. COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING PARAGRAPH.
Having a best friend is precious for many reasons. First, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
................................................................................
................................................................................
................................................................................
................................................................................
................................................................................
................................................................................
................................................................................
................................................................................

Comprehension 3.
(1) People have very different ideas for their dream home -their perfect house or apartment. Some
people dream of a simple house in a special place. Others want a large house with every
convenience. Is your dream home similar to any of the dream homes below?

(2) Mukesh Ambani, a businessman in India is the owner of the


most expensive house in the world. Ambani's dream house is 27
stories high. So, it has a room for everything his family needs
and wants. Mr. Ambani owns a lot of cars. So, the first six floors
of his house are just for cars. Another floor of the house has a
movie theater with seats for 50 people. Two floors of the house
are for health center with a gym and a swimming pool. Another
floor is for the guests of the Ambani family. The four floors at the
top of the building are just for the Ambani family. From there,
they have a view of the Arabian Sea.

(3) (3)Henry David Thoreau, an American writer lived from 1817 to 1862.
At the age of 28, he built his perfect house. It was a very small house,
just 10 feet by 15 ft (3M by 4.5 M). Inside, there were just two chairs,
a bed, a table, and a small desk. The location of this house was very
important to Thoreau. He built his house in the woods close to a
beautiful Lake.

(4) Dikembe Mutombo, a professional basketball player built a very different type of Dream Home.
Mutombo grew up in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, but he moved to the United States to
study. He wanted to be a doctor but instead he became a famous basketball player. Mutombo's
dream home is in the Congo, and it has beds for 150 people. It also has an emergency room, many
exam rooms, and some beautiful gardens. Mutombo didn't build his dream home for himself.
Instead, he built it for the people in his native country. Mutombo's dream house is a hospital.
Questions:
A. FILL IN THE FOLLOWING CHART.
Ambani’s dream house Thoreau’s dream house Mutombo’s dream house
1.very tall- 27 stories 1.close to a lake 1.
2. 2. 2.

3. 3. 3.

B. CIRCLE THE CORRECT ANSWER.


1. Mukesh Ambani’s house is very. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Simple - big -small
2. Henry David Thoreau’s home was. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . than Ambani’s house.
Taller - much smaller - more expensive
3. Thoreau’s house didn’t have. . . . . . . . . . . . .
Beds for guests - a bed - a view of the woods.
4. Dikembe Mutombo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . his dream home.
Doesn’t like - didn’t built - doesn’t live in
5. Both Ambani’s and Mutombo’s homes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..
Were expensive to build - have a movie theater - have a view of water
6. Each of the dream homes is . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . in a different way.
Simple - expensive - special
C. CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD IN BRACKETS TO COMPLETE THE SENTENCES.
Noun Verb Adjective
Owner Own
Building build
Beauty Beautify Beautiful
Difference Differ Different
1. Mr. Ambani’s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . a big company. He and his brother are both. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
of the company. (owners – owns)
2. Thoreau’s house is a very small. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . He. . . . . . . . . . . . . . it by himself.
(built – building)
3. The woods are a. . . . . . . . . . . . . . place for a home.(beauty – beautiful )
4. Thoreau’s house and Ambani’s house are very. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . One important . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . is the size. (different – difference)
D. WHAT DO THE UNDERLINED WORDS IN THE TEXT REFER TO?
1. Their (paragraph1): . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2. His (paragraph2): . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3. There (paragraph2): . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
4. It (paragraph3): . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
5. He (paragraph4): . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
E. FIND IN THE TEXT WORDS OR PHRASES WHICH ALMOST MEAN THE SAME AS.
1. Comfort (paragraph1): . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2. Floors (paragraph2): . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3. Forest (paragraph3): . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F. WRITE A PARAGRAPH ABOUT YOUR DREAM HOUSE.
....................................................................................
....................................................................................
....................................................................................
....................................................................................
....................................................................................
....................................................................................
....................................................................................
....................................................................................
....................................................................................

Comprehension 4.

(1) Many universities around the world are proud to have


long histories and strong traditions. However, very few
universities can claim to be among the oldest in the
world. Nalanda University, in Bihar, India, was
established around 600 BC. It was most likely the
world's first university. In the past, scholars came from
Europe, China, and all over India to learn about
science, medicine, the Buddhist religion, and other
subjects. The university is in ruins now, but at one time
it was an impressive school with temples, classrooms,
libraries, and dormitories.

(2) (2)According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the


University of AI-Qaraouine in Fes, Morocco, is the oldest
surviving university in the world. It was probably founded in 859
and became a famous place to study natural sciences. In 1957,
after more than 1,000 years as a university, AI-Qaraouine added
mathematics, physics, chemistry, and various foreign languages
to its traditional list of subjects for study.

(3) The first university in Europe is definitely the University of


Bologna, in Italy. It was one of the few universities in Europe that
were not influenced by religion. Professors were forbidden from
teaching outside the university. So, students came from all over
Europe to study with its famous teachers. Since opening in 1088,
the University of Bologna has never closed its doors, despite the
many wars in Europe.

(4) With the success of the University of Bologna, other universities opened across Europe. They were
started by kings, religious groups, and former professors. Today there are so many universities that
students don't need to go far to study. They are sure to find one close to home.
Comprehension questions.
A. ARE THESE STATEMENTS TRUE OR FALSE. JUSTIFY.
1. All universities which have long histories are considered as the oldest ones in the world.
.................................................................................
2. The university of Nalanda is still receiving scholars from different countries around the world.
.................................................................................
3. Although Europe had many wars, the university of Bologna never closed.
.................................................................................
B. ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS.
1. What did scholars who came to Nalanda university study?
.................................................................................
2. Which university is no longer standing today?
.................................................................................
3. When did the university of Bologna opened its doors?
.................................................................................
C. COMPLETE THE FOLLOIWNG CHART.
Nouns Adjectives Verbs
Claim ........................
....................... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . impress
Foundation ........................
success . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Variety . . . . . .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ........................
D. FILL IN THE GAPS WITH THE WORDS FROM THE CHART ABOVE.
The restaurant, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by a passionate chef, quickly gained a reputation for its
delicious food and friendly atmosphere. Customers were . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by the . . . . . . . . . . .
menu offerings, ranging from traditional dishes to modern fusion creations. With its . . . . . . . . . . . . .
blend of flavors and attentive service, it became a favorite dining spot for locals and visitors alike.
E. FIND IN THE TEXT WORDS OR PHRASES WHICH ALMOST MEAN THE SAME AS.
1. Set up (1): . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2. Different (2): . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3. Prohibited (3): . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
4. Affected (3): . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F. WHAT DO THE UNDERLINED WORDS IN THE TEXT REFER TO?
1. It (1): . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2. Its (2): . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3. They (4): . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
4. They (4): . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
G. COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING PARAGRAPH USING THE INFORMATION BELLOW.
University of Al Qaraouine:
- Founder: Fatima El-Fihriya - date of foundation: 859 AD
- Location: Fez, Morocco - Subjects of study: Islamic studies, Philosophy ,
Mathematics, astronomy and
Languages
- Open to male and female between 13 and 30.

Al Qaraouine is the oldest university in the world. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .


....................................................................................
.....................................................................................
.....................................................................................
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . .
......................................................................................
......................................................................................
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . .
......................................................................................

Comprehension 5.

(1) Because deaf people cannot hear, they have


special ways of communicating. For example,
they can learn to understand what someone is
saying by looking at the mouth of the speaker.
This is called lipreading. Also, speaking is very
difficult for the deaf because they cannot hear
their own voices. However, it is possible with
special training. According to many deaf people
all around the world, the most practical and
popular way of communicating is with sign
language.

(2) In many ways, sign language is similar to spoken language. The words of sign language are
made with signs, which are formed with movements of the hands, face, and body. As with
words, each sign has a different meaning and can be combined to form sentences. Signed
languages also have their own grammar. The alphabet of sign language is special hand signs
that stand for letters; they make spelling possible. The signs combine to form a rich language
that can express the same thoughts, feelings, and ideas as any spoken language. And just as
people from different countries speak different languages, most countries have their own
variety of sign language.

(3) In addition to knowing sign language, it is also helpful to know something about how deaf
people communicate. Since they rely so much on actions, deaf people are generally not very
formal when they "talk," and may touch your arm or shoulder a lot to make sure you know
what they're saying. It is not seen as rude among deaf people to lightly touch someone you do
not know to get their attention. It's also okay to wave your hands or hit the table or floor. Also,
lots of eye contact is necessary.

(4) There are many ways to learn a few signs. Community colleges often teach introductory classes.
For self-learners, bookstores and libraries have books for learning sign language. There are also
instructional videos on the Internet, with actors demonstrating signs and performing interesting
stories and conversations for you to see. With practice, you'll soon get the hang of this useful
method of communicating!
Comprehension questions.
A. FILL IN THE GAPS WITH WORDS FROM THE TEXT.
Deaf people have special ways of communicating. While they can't hear, they also find it hard to
speak because they cannot hear their (1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Some deaf people use (2) . . . . . . . .
, where they watch the speaker's mouth. But the most widely used method of communication is
(3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . They use hand signs to spell letters of the (4). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ,
and use hand and body movements to form words and sentences. They even have their own (5) . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . the same way people in different countries speak different languages. In
addition to hand signs, communicating with deaf people involves a lot of touching and making (6) ..
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . You may also have to ·wave your hands or (7) .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . the
table or floor to get their attention. There are lots of ways to learn sign language·. You can go for
(8) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . with trained teachers, read (9) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . about it, or watch
(10) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . All it takes is effort and practice!
B. ARE THESE STATEMENTS TRUE OR FALSE? JUSTIFY.
1. You can learn to lipread by reading a book.
....................................................................................
2. Lots of eye contact is necessary for deaf people.
....................................................................................
3. Sign language has letters, but no words.
....................................................................................
4. Waving your hands at someone is considered rude by deaf people.
....................................................................................
C.ANSWER THE FOLLOIWNG QUESTIONS.
1. Why is it difficult for deaf people to speak?
....................................................................................
3. Give two similarities between sing language and speaking.
a. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
b. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
D. COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING CHART.

Nouns Adjectives Verbs


. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Introductory ........................
Variety ........................ ........................
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Threaten
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Imagine
Harm ........................ ........................
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Communicative ........................
D. COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING SENTENCES WITH THE WORDS FROM THE CHART.
1 Smoking can be very. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . to your health.
2 The band sang a . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . of songs during the performance.
3 He must have a great. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . to come up with that crazy story!
4 The robber. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . to hurt me if I didn't give him my wallet.
5 The first chapter of Dancing Today is a great. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . to modern dance.
6 Couples who .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . with each other usually have a happy marriage.
G. WHAT DO THE UNDERLINED WORDS IN THE TEXT REFER TO?
1. They (paragraph1): . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2. Which (paragraph3):. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3. That (paragraph3): . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
H. FIND IN THE TEXT WORDS OR PHRASES WICH ALMOST MEAN THE SAME AS.
1. Joined (paragraph2): . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2. Useful (paragraph3): . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3. Depend (paragraph3): . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
I. COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING PARAGRAPH.
I chose to learn English language for many reasons. First, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
....................................................................................
....................................................................................
....................................................................................
....................................................................................
....................................................................................
....................................................................................
....................................................................................
....................................................................................

Comprehension 6.

(1) J. J. Abrams was born in New York City in 1966.


Growing up, Abrams loved mysteries and magic
tricks-anything that was unexpected. His favorite
movies and television programs were science
fiction ones like The Twilight Zone. When he was
11 or 12, Abrams' grandfather gave him a movie
camera called a Super 8. He used the camera to
make short movies with his sister and their
friends. From then on, Abrams' ambition was to
work in Hollywood and make movies and TV
shows. He soon got his first opportunity at 16
years old, when he wrote music for a movie called Night beast.

(2) In college, Abrams co-wrote and sold a screenplay to a Hollywood production company. He started
gaining popularity for his work, and his next two dramas-Regarding Henry and Former Young-were
hit movies. Abrams continued to write and produce screenplays throughout his 20s, the biggest
being Armageddon. But Abrams never lost his passion for the mysterious and wanted to create
shows like the ones he enjoyed as a child. His next move was into television in 1998, when he
helped create the popular TV series Felicity. Some of his shows became huge hits, like the spy
drama Alias and the Emmy-winning and mystery thriller Lost. Abrams made his movie directing
debut almost a decade later in 2006, with Mission Impossible III. He then went on to direct science
fiction movie Star Trek in 2009. His movie success caught the attention of top filmmaker Steven
Spielberg. Together, they created the monster movie Super 8, named for the camera both men
experimented with when they were young.

(3) The Super 8 camera has proved to be very influential in Abrams' life, but there is another special
gift that has helped Abrams become who he is today. Not long after the camera, Abrams'
grandfather gave him a box of magic tricks. Abrams calls it a mystery box because he never opened
it. He says he wants to preserve the mystery and remind himself to create unexpected stories. To
him, the box "represents infinite possibility. It represents hope. It represents potential.’’

(4) Abrams has even used the box metaphor to describe movie theaters. "What's a bigger mystery box
than a movie theater? You go to the theater, you're just so excited to see anything, mystery boxes
are everywhere in what I do." The box remains a source of 35 inspiration for Abrams, and he keeps
it on a shelf in his office. At a dinner party in 1994, Abrams met a woman named Katie McGrath
and they got married soon after. Today, the couple and their three children live near Los Angeles,
California, where Abrams runs his own production company called Bad Robot. He keeps busy,
usually working on many projects at once, and is always looking to create more and more mystery
boxes.
Comprehension questions.
A. ARE THESE STATEMENTS TRUE OR FALSE? JUSTIFY.
1. Abrams mostly wrote screenplays in his 20s.
.................................................................................
2. Abrams compares the movie theater to his Super 8 camera.
.................................................................................
3. Steven Spielberg has worked with Abrams since Abrams' television days.
.................................................................................
4. Abrams works for his wife's production company, Bad Robot.
.................................................................................
B. ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS.
1. What did his grandfather give him as a gift when he was a kid?
.................................................................................
2. What kind of movies did he like as a kid?
.................................................................................
3. What is Abrams’ biggest work in his 20s?
.................................................................................
4. Where did Abrams meet his wife?
.................................................................................
C. COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING CHART WITH INFORMATION FROM THE TEXT.
Year Event
1966 ........................................................
................ Abrams moved into Television.
2009 ........................................................
D. COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING CHART WITH THE WORDS GIVEN.
director – create - scene - scary - script - studio - credits - avoid - disappear - Hollywood
produce - hero - important - lead - actress - impossible - prepare - supervisor - famous - monster
Nouns Verbs Adjectives

E. FILL IN THE GAPS WITH THE WORDS FROM THE CHART.


1. The . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . of the movie is responsible for overseeing the entire production
process.
2. To begin, they collaborate with the screenwriter to . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . a compelling
storyline.
3. Each . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . is meticulously planned to create the desired atmosphere,
whether it's a suspenseful moment or a heartwarming scene.
4. During production, the . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ensures that everything runs smoothly on set.
5. Finding the perfect . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . is crucial for bringing the characters to life.
6. Actors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . extensively to inhabit their roles authentically.
7. As filming progresses, the . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . works to capture the director's vision on
screen.
8. Finally, the . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . sequence acknowledges the contributions of everyone
involved in making the film.
F. WHAT DO THE UNDERLINED WORRDS IN THE TEXT REFER TO?
1. His (paragraph1): . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2. They (paragraph2): . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3. It (paragraph3): . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
G. FIND IN THE TEXT WORDS OR PHRASES WHICH ALMOST MEAN THE SAME AS.
1. Carried on (paragraph2): . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2. First appearance (paragraph2): . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
H. COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING PARAGRAPH.
I like science fiction movies for many reasons. First, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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Comprehension 7.

(1) (1) Ian Kiernan was taking part in an around-


the-world sailing race in 1987 when he
noticed an alarming amount of garbage in
the oceans. Returning home to Australia,
Kiernan felt he had to do something about it.
He started close to home by organizing a
community event in 1989 called Clean Up
Sydney Harbour. To his surprise, more than
40,000 volunteers came out to clear away
garbage. Encouraged by this success, Kiernan
decided to make the clean-up a national event the following year. It took off-across Australia, an
estimated 300,000 people spent the day working to improve their local environment.

(2) Clean Up Australia Day has been held annually since then, growing bigger every year. In 1993,
Kiernan started an even more ambitious program. With the help of the United- Nations
Environment Program, he launched Clean Up the World to support communities around the world
in cleaning up and conserving the environment. In its first year, more than 30 million people in 80
countries participated. Clean Up the World now falls on the third weekend of September every year
and has grown more popular as the years go by.

(3) Today, Clean Up Australia Day welcomes more than


half a million volunteers who help to clear thousands
of tons of garbage from beaches, parks, streets, and
waterways. They pick up used cigarettes, glass and
plastic bottles, plastic bags, and thousands of snack
food wrappers. In recent years Kiernan says that
there has been an increase in harmful electronic
waste-such as computers and cell phones-and that e-
waste is accumulating faster than other trash. E-
waste sometimes makes up 70 percent of the overall
waste found in landfills, according to Global Futures
Foundation. Kiernan feels that companies need to take more responsibility for the cleanup and
recycling of their products, since chemicals from e-waste can cause health problems if they leak
into the ground or into the water supply. To help deal with e-waste, Kiernan started a program
called Clean Up Mobile Phones to collect used cell phones for reuse and recycling.

(4) Ian saw a problem that needed fixing, and he chose to take action. By starting Clean Up Australia
Day, he raised awareness of how we treat our Earth. What's more, he united millions of people in
their goal to make the world a cleaner place. Through persistence and hard work, Ian has shown
that anyone who puts their mind to it can make a difference.
Comprehension questions.
A. ARE THESE STATEMENTS TRUE OR FALSE? JUSTIFY.
1. Ian Keirnan is from Australia.
...............................................................................
2. No one responded to Ian when he organized a community event.
...............................................................................
3. Clean up the World was a success.
...............................................................................
B. ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS.
1. What was the purpose of Clean up the World?
...............................................................................
2. When is Clean up the World held and how often?
...............................................................................
3. What kind of waste do volunteers clear?
...............................................................................
C. COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING CHART.
Figures Events
1993 ..........................................................
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The number of people who participated in Clean up the World for
First year.
70 ........................................................

D. PUT THESE EVENTS FROM THE TEXT IN ORDER.


1 Kiernan competed in international sailing races.
. . . . . . Kiernan worked with the United Nations to start an international program.
. . . . . . Forty thousand people picked up garbage in Sydney.
. . . . . . Kiernan became concerned about environmental problems.
. . . . . . Kiernan began focusing on recycling old computers and cell phones.
. . . . . . .People across Australia worked to clean up garbage.
E. CHOOSE THE CORRECT ANSWER.
1. The baby was alarmed by the . . . . . . . . . . . . . . noise.
a. soft b. loud
2. Volunteers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . for the work they do.
a. get paid b. don't receive pay
3. When you start an ambitious project, it will . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
a. take a lot of time and effort b. be very easy to finish
4. It you launch something, you.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . it.
a. start b. stop
5. Waste is generally . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
a. kept on a computer b. thrown into a trash can
6. When money accumulates, it is earned . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
a. over a long period of time b. all at once
7. An army that is united is usually . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
a. weaker b. stronger
8. A person who is persistent is likely to be . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
a. hardworking b. lazy
F. WHAT DO THE UNDERLINED WORDS IN THE TEXT REFER TO?
1. Their (paragraph1): . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2. Its (paragraph2): . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3. They (paragraph3): . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
4. He (paragraph4): . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
G. FIND IN THE TEXT WORDS OR PHRASES WHICH ALMOST MEAN THE SAME AS.
1. Worrying (paragraph1): . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2. Every year (paragraph2): . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3. Collect (paragraph3): . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
4. Insistence (paragraph4): . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
H. USE THE INFORMATION IN THE CHART TO WRITE A REPORT.
Your school organized an event to raise students’ awareness about the danger of waste.
Topic Reducing waste in the region
Date and place 25th May in our school and neighborhood
Organizers School administration and waste management companies
Objectives Reduce waste and increase recycling
Participants Students, teachers, administration, volunteers, businesses ..
Activities In the morning: 2 presentations, a film, a discussion
In the afternoon: collecting waste in the school and neighborhood
Songs, plays, competition and prize ceremony.
Conclusion Opinions and reactions

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Comprehension 8.

(1) We are a planet of seven billion people, and this number is


growing by about 370,000 people every day. This is putting a
huge strain on the planet's natural resources. For many
governments and environmental organizations, the race is on
to drastically reduce our consumption of resources before
they run out.

(2) Water is one of our most precious resources. Our quality of


life, as well as life itself, depends on the availability of clean,
fresh water. It is the most widely used resource in industry
and plays a major role in energy production. Although 70
percent of the world is covered in water, only 2.5 percent of
that is freshwater, and less than one percent of that
freshwater is readily available to us. Yet we often overestimate how much water we have and
reduce it further through pollution or inefficient use.

(3) Some 92 percent of all fresh water used annually is dedicated to growing plants and raising
animals for food. This means that if water runs out, our food supply might follow. In India, it is
estimated that future water shortages could reduce grain harvests by 25%. In a country where
the population exceeds 1.2 billion people and is growing rapidly every year, this is a huge
concern. India, like many developing countries, is already struggling to provide for its
population. While most people in developed countries can get water at the turn of a tap, nearly
four billion people elsewhere lack access to safe water, according to a 2012 United Nations
world water Development Report.

(4) Rain forests are another endangered resource. They once covered 14 percent of the Earth's
land surface, but this has shrunk to only six percent. Every second, an area of rain forests, the
size of a football field is destroyed-at this rate, rain forests will disappear completely in less than
40 years. All rain forests are important, but it would be a disaster if the Amazon rain forest was
gone. Often called the "Lungs of the Planet," the Amazon stretches across a large portion of
south America. It is so big that it produces 20 percent of the Earth's oxygen and is home to
more than half of the world's estimated ten million species of plants and animals.

(5) Governments around the world have laws to help protect and conserve these precious
resources. But no matter how many rules there are, it is ultimately individuals who must help
the planet to sustain itself. Changing our lifestyle and limiting our use of natural resources is the
only way to ensure a better future for our children, and our children's children.
Comprehension questions.
A. ARE THESE STATEMENTS TRUE OR FALSE? JUSTIFY.
1. The number of people in our planet in rapidly increasing.
.................................................................................
2. The most used and needed natural resources is water.
.................................................................................
3. Water is not related to food.
.................................................................................
B. ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS.
1. In which field water is used the most?
.................................................................................
2. What is the estimated period left for rain forests to disappear?
.................................................................................
3. Where does the planet get 20% of oxygen?
.................................................................................
C. CIRCLE ONE WORD OR PHRASE THAT DOES NOT BEMONG IN EACH GROUP. THE BOLD WORDS
ARE FROM THE TEXT.
1. strain ease difficulty stress
2. extremely greatly suddenly drastically
3. opportunity availability busy possibility
4. lack shortage exceed missing
5. forever everlasting endangered permanent
6. sustain discontinue keep going maintain
D. FILL IN THE GAPS WITH THE BOLD WORDS FROM C.
1. What kind of situations can put a(n). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . on a relationship?
2. The town has changed. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . since the last time I visited.
3. The tiger is a(n). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . animal, There aren't many left in the wild.
4. It's easy to launch a business but it's difficult to. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . it.
E. WHAT DO THE UNDERLINED WORDS IN THE TEXT REFER TO?
1. It (paragraph2): . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2. Its (paragraph3): . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3. It (paragraph4): . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F. FIND IN THE TEXT WORDS OR PHRASES WHICH ALMOST MEAN THE SAME AS.
1. Stress (paragraph1): . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2. Gathering crops (paragraph3): . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3. Get smaller (paragraph4): . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
4. Eventually (paragraph5): . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
G. WRITING.
Write an email to the editor of the magazine Save Our Planet to tell him about the problems that
people can face if we run out of our natural resources and suggest some ways to preserve them.

Dear editor,
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