Комплект тестов для контроля навыка чтения к учебнику английского языка для

VI класса школ с углубленным изучением английского языка, лицеев, гимназий,

колледжей под редакцией О.В.Афанасьевой, И.В.Михеевой.

Автор: Борбат Лада Владимировна

Пояснительная записка

Данный комплект тестов представляет собой учебный материал проверочного и

обучающего характера и разработан с целью развития и контроля навыков чтения. Все

тесты разработаны на основе изучаемого лексико-грамматического материала и могут

быть

успешно

использованы

для

постепенной

систематической

подготовки

обучающихся средней ступени обучения к выполнению заданий по чтению в формате

ОГЭ. В комплекте представлены следующие типы заданий:

1.

True/False/ Not mentioned (верно/неверно/в тексте не сказано)

2.

Multiple choice (множественный выбор)

3.

Matching (установление соответствия)

Для всех тестов разработаны как контрольные вопросы, так и вопросы для

обсуждения, способствующие развитию навыка устной речи.

Все контрольные тесты снабжены ключами.

В результате работы с данным комплектом тестов по чтению ожидается успешное

освоение новых для обучающихся форматов и приобретение необходимых навыков

для сдачи государственных и международных экзаменов. Настоящий комплект тестов

апробирован в 6-х классах МАОУ «Лицей математики и информатики» г. Саратова и

д а л

п о л о ж и т е л ь н ы е

р е з у л ь т а т ы .

Этот учебно-методический комплект можно использовать как самостоятельно, так и в

дополнение к заданиям учебника.

Unit 1. RUSSIA, MY HOMELAND

Yuri Gagarin - First Man in Space

Yuri Gagarin was the first man to fly into space. On April 12, 1961 the 27 year old Soviet fighter

p i l o t orbited the

world

on

board

the

spaceship

Vostok

1

at

an altitude of

203

mile s .

The spacecraft was launched from the cosmodrome in Baikonur. The journey itself was as long as 108

minutes. It was the first time in history when man freed himself from the earth’s gravity.

Although Gagarin performed a unique deed, his background was typical. He was the son of

a carpenter. His mother worked as a milkmaid. When the Germans occupied their village during World War

II the family were forced out of their home and lived in a hut nearby. At school Gagarin’s favorite subjects

were mathematics and physics. Yuri went on to a technical college where he became interested in flying.

After graduating from pilot school Gagarin became a fighter pilot for the Soviet Air Force.

When Gagarin’s Vostok spacecraft lifted off on the morning of April 12, 1961 Gagarin was only a

passenger. He could not control anything on board Vostok 1. Although the flight was a success, it was found

out later that Gagarin was close to being killed. The service module did not separate from the capsule on its

return to earth. Temperatures in the capsule got very high and Gagarin said he was engulfed in a cloud of fire

when returning to earth. Shortly before the capsule crashed on the ground Gagarin was able to eject and

return to earth with a parachute.

After returning to earth Gagarin became famous around the world. He visited Germany, Canada,

Japan and many other countries in order to show the success of Soviet technology. He was compared

to Christopher Columbus.

Comprehension questions

Mark the sentences: true, false or

not mentioned

1.

Gagarin’s was the first man to experience the absence of gravity.

2.

Vostok 1 left the earth and went up as high as 203 miles.

3.

Vostok 1 turned around the earth 3 times.

4.

Yuri Gagarin was raised in a large family.

5.

Gagarin’s family was quite unusual.

6.

Yuri was good at exact sciences when he was a pupil.

7.

Being a kid Yuri began thinking of space flights.

8.

Everything on board Vostok 1 was under control.

9.

The service module of Vostok 1was planned to separate from the capsule while returning to earth.

10. Yuri Gagarin proved the success of Soviet technology.

Discussion questions

1.

What new information did you learn from the text?

2.

What school subjects helped Gagarin to become a successful pilot?

3.

Why was Gagarin’s returning to earth dangerous?

4.

Why was Gagarin compared to Christopher Columbus?

5.

Why are Russian people proud Yuri Gagarin?

Unit 2. ENGLISH – A LANGUAGE OF THE WORLD

Global English

Nowadays English is more widely used than any of the other colonial languages like French,

Portuguese or Spanish. It even has a wider use than some of the languages of international non-Western

religious traditions, like Arabic or Sanskrit. In Nigeria, it is an official language; in Zambia, it is one of the

state languages; in Singapore, it is the major language of government, the legal system and education.

In countries like India and Nigeria, English is used in local English-language newspapers, on radio

and television, at universities, in industries and services. Indeed, with nearly 200 languages, India needs

English to unite the country. In fact, in a country of 840 million, more Indians speak English and write

English than in England itself.

Global English speaks with two voices: British and American. There is a certain standard in Britain

and America. There is also an agreed, standardized vocabulary and spelling system. The differences are

mainly differences of accent, inflection, and spelling and, above all, vocabulary:

apartment versus flat,

buddy versus mate, candy versus sweets, diaper versus nappy. There are so many different words and word

combinations that America’s Associated Press and Britain’s Reuters news agencies have to translate English

into English. The Reuters office in New York has a twelve-page list of common terms which must be

translated.

British or American, the language is basically the same. All over the world people need English-

language training programmes, international business textbooks, language courses, tape cassettes, video

programmes and computerized instructions. It is a business worth hundreds of millions of pounds or dollars

to the economies of the US and the UK. The English language is now one of their most reliable exports.

In the ironic words of the novelist Malcolm Bradbury, it is an ideal British product, and Dr Robert

Burchfield, former Chief Editor of the Oxford English Dictionary, has remarked that ‘any literate, educated

person on the face of the globe is deprived if he does not know English’.

Comprehension questions

Mark the sentences: true, false or

not mentioned

1.

Not all colonial languages are the same widely used.

2.

English is used by governments of some non-Western countries.

3.

In India, English is used more than Sanskrit.

4.

People in India speak more than 100 languages.

5.

English is spoken in every Indian family.

6.

Global English means one standard.

7.

Americans and Englishmen have no problems caused by differences in vocabulary.

8.

It is important to choose between British or American training programme.

9.

The English language is an up-to-date reliable business for the UK and the USA.

10. Dr Robert Burchfield thinks that educated people in any country need English.

Discussion questions

1.

How do you understand the expression ‘colonial languages’?

2.

Why is English so useful for such countries as India?

3.

Are the differences between the variants of the English language really important?

4.

Is it enough nowadays to know just one global language?

5.

What other languages are very popular nowadays and why?

Unit 3. ME AND MY WORLD

Bob is going fishing

Bob needed to pack for Saturday’s fishing trip. He went into his hall closet, where he kept more than

15 fishing rods, his new fishing nets and other necessary things. He was used to going fishing twice a year at

Big Bear, a huge lake in southern California about 7,000 feet up in the mountains.

It all started several years ago. Bob was looking through his favourite magazine. One article began

with the words “Welcome to Big Bear Lake, a four seasons resort community surrounded by the San

Bernardino National Forest, 100 miles northeast of Los Angeles”. He read it very attentively and somehow

realized that place would never disappoint him.

California tries to push the fishing industry by sponsoring a Free Fishing Day twice a year, once in

June and once in September. That was enough for Bob. He went mostly because it was a social event with a

few friends, not so much to catch fish. Even by itself, the drive up a winding two-lane road was worth the

trip. Not to mention the scenery: big, beautiful houses and trees that lined the shore of the lake.

Packing was a project in itself. Bob had even created a computer file named Fishing Trip. It was a

checklist of 45 things to take to Big Bear. He took two rods, because on Free Fishing Day you were allowed

to fish with two rods instead of the usual one rod. He took a hooded sweatshirt, jeans, two pair of socks, a

heavy hooded denim jacket, winter gloves, and a scarf. He also took flip-flops, shorts, a T-shirt, sunglasses, a

big hat, and a lightweight raincoat. If you go to Big Bear in June, you’d better be prepared for hot or cold,

rain or shine and you will never regret!

He packed a couple of magazines to read just in case the fish weren’t biting. He and his friends joked

that the fish were always biting – in the place you just left or the place you were going to.

After about an hour, Bob had gathered all the items on his list into a neat pile next to his door. He

went to bed knowing that tomorrow’s weather and fishing were difficult to expect, but the good time with

his friends was a given.

Comprehension questions

Choose the best variant

1.

Bob needed

a.

to pack his fishing nets.

b. 15 fishing rods.

c. to pack for fishing.

2.

Bob liked to visit

a.

Big Bears.

b. a lake in California.

c. southern California.

3.

It is nice to come to Big Bear lake

a.

in any season.

b. twice a year.

c. on Saturday.

4.

Big Bear lake is situated

a.

in the forest.

b. close to Los Angeles.

c. in the northeast.

5.

Fishing industry in California

a.

sponsors fishermen.

b. needs support.

c. keeps a Free Fishing Day.

6.

Bob took part in Free Fishing Day because he enjoyed

a.

spending time with friends.

b. fishing.

c. driving.

7.

Packing for Bob was

a.

a hard thing.

b. a usual thing.

c. a pleasant thing.

8.

Bob wanted to be prepared for

a.

good weather.

b. stormy weather.

c. unexpected weather.

9.

on Free Fishing Day Bob and his friends

a.

caught a lot of fish.

b. knew where to fish.

c. seemed poor fishermen.

10. Bob was sure

a.

in his fishing success.

b. in having fun with friends.

c. in a pleasant day.

Discussion questions

1.

Is fishing a popular pastime?

2.

What are the pleasures of fishing?

3.

What makes Free Fishing Day special?

4.

Do you like to pack? What can be done to make packing exciting?

5.

How do you like to spend time with friends?

Unit 4. It takes many kinds to make the world.

Keeping a Promise

Alice badly needed a really exciting weekend. She was surfing the Internet looking for some

weekend trips, nothing in particular. Suddenly she saw the words: “Most grown-up adventures start with

these five words: Welcome to Las Vegas.” She thought it was a tremendous idea and decided to go there

with her sister Jane. So, they agreed to enjoy themselves in Las Vegas next weekend and Alice promised to

arrange everything.

The day of their departure came. Alice had not been to Las Vegas in more than a year. She was

excited. Her sister Jane was coming by to pick her up in about ten minutes. Alice finished putting her

toothbrush and toothpaste into her travel bag; those were the last two items on her “to pack” list.

She had called ahead, of course, to get a room for Jane and herself. The hotel manager told her that

no more rooms were available at the price that she had seen in the Internet. This was no surprise to Alice.

So, she booked a room paying $100 for two nights.

Alice got anxious and looked at her watch. Jane was late, of course. Alice realized she had forgotten

to remind Jane of today’s departure time. To put it kindly, Jane was not exactly the most organized person in

the world. Alice called Jane up. She left a short message: “Where are you? It’s time to go to Vegas!”

A few minutes later, Jane called back. At first she just mumbled something. Jane had a big problem –

a time-table conflict. Her 13 year old daughter Nancy was finishing the seventh-grade and Jane had already

promised to attend her daughter’s graduation ceremony this very weekend.

“Oh, Alice, I’m so sorry,” Jane said. “I know how much you had wanted to do this. I thought Nancy’s

graduation ceremony and party were next week. I get so confused and can forget really important things

sometimes. I’ll make this up to you, I promise. Maybe you can call up Lily; she might be available, even

though it’s really short notice. If not, don’t worry, I’ll pay you for everything and we can make plans again.”

Alice sighed and dialed her friend Lily. She wondered how Jane had made it through life so

unorganized.

Comprehension questions

Mark the sentences: true, false or

not mentioned

1.

Alice was tired of her work and daily routine.

2.

Alice wanted something special for the coming weekend.

3.

Alice had been to Las Vegas many times.

4.

Alice was going to drive to Las Vegas.

5.

Alice’s “to pack” list was short.

6.

Alice was a reliable person.

7.

Jane wasn’t considerate to Alice.

8.

Jane thought her promise to her daughter was the most important.

9.

Jane didn’t regret about the situation.

10. It was difficult for Alice to understand Jane and how she lived.

Discussion questions

1.

What is a ‘perfect weekend’ for you?

2.

The sisters, Alice and Jane, are different, aren’t they? How?

3.

Is it usual or unusual that the sisters are so different?

4.

Can Jane keep a promise?

5.

Can you think of the further relationships between Alice and Jane?

Unit 5. CHRISTMAS

Christmas in other countries.

Children in France welcome the visit of Pere Noёl. They leave shoes by the fireplace so that he can fill them

with gifts. After the midnight mass many families have a special supper called “Le reveillon”. They eat a

“Buche de Noёl”, a special cake that looks like a log.

In many Italian homes a nativity scene called “presepio” is the centre of celebrations. Many families have

fried eel, called “capitonne”, as a Christmas Eve supper. Other special dishes are “panettone”, bread with

dried fruit, and “torrone”, candy made with nuts and honey.

In Sweden, Christmas presents are brought by Jultomten, who has elves as helpers. In this northern

European country the Christmas season begins on December 13 – St. Lucia Day. On this day the oldest

daughter of the house puts on a white dress and wears a wreath with candles on her head. She serves coffee

and buns to the rest of her family.

For German and Austrian children festivities begin on December 6, when St. Nicholas comes to their homes

and gives them a bag filled with sweets, oranges and nuts. At Christmas dinner in Austria the famous

sachertorte and different kinds of chocolates are served as dessert and in Germany families like to eat

stollen, bread filled with fruits.

In Bethlehem, a small town in today’s Israel, there is a colourful procession on Christmas Eve. People walk

through the narrow streets and carry a picture of Jesus in a cradle to the Church of Nativity. There it is put

into a glass manger. Pilgrims from all over the world travel to Bethlehem to take part.

In Mexico children have a Christmas party and hang a “piñata”, on a rope from the ceiling. This may be a

paper figure filled with candy or small toys. Then they try to hit it with a stick with their eyes closed until it

breaks and the sweets and toys fall out. Many people take part in processions that show how Mary and

Joseph searched for a place to stay in Bethlehem.

In the southern hemisphere Christmas comes during the hot summer season. In Brazil people have outdoor

picnics and fireworks. Australians gather outdoors and spend the holidays on sandy beaches. For pupils it’s

the end of the school year and the beginning of the summer holidays.

Chinese New Year is the most important holiday of the Chinese calendar. The New Year begins between

January 21 and February 20. The celebration starts with the second new moon after the beginning of winter

(December 21) and lasts until the next full moon.

Comprehension questions

Match the countries

with the events, fill in the table

Country

1

Australia

2

Austria

3

Brazil

4

China

5

France

6

Germany

7

Israel

8

Italy

9

Mexico

10

Sweden

Event

Events

1.

At Christmas people like to spend time outdoors having picnics and fireworks.

2.

A favourite dessert is special bread cooked with fruit.

3.

The New Year begins later than in other countries.

4.

Children have a special game to get their sweet presents.

5.

The centre of celebration is the scene showing the birth of Christ.

6.

People celebrate Christmas at the seaside.

7.

Children receive Christmas presents put in their shoes.

8.

The beginning of the Christmas season is especially important for girls.

9.

Christmas chocolate dessert is very popular.

10. People from all over the world travel there to visit Bethlehem.

Discussion questions

1.

Which country would you like to visit at Christmas? Why?

2.

Which Christmas meals would you like to taste?

3.

Which event or game would you like to take part in?

4.

Why does the text tell us about New Year not Christmas in China?

5.

What are Russian New Year and Christmas traditions?

Unit 6. The PLEASURE OF READING.

To Read or Not to Read?

A book is a thing that everybody knows. As children we read books of fairy-tales and children’s stories.

At school we learn from books. And as adults, we read books for pleasure, information, or education.

Modern time has brought various forms of books. First of all, it is the electronic form of book, called e-

book, which changed the concept of the classic books. You can easily get e-books on the Internet, download

it into an electronic device which enables you to read it whenever and wherever you like. Another form of

books is an audio book. It is a book read by either a human or a computer. The main advantage of an audio

book is that you can "read" in the dark, or while driving, for example. No matter which type of book you

like most, books are an inseparable part of modern life.

However, printed books lose their popularity. For example, people joke that no one in Los Angeles

reads; everyone watches TV, rents videos, or goes to the movies. The most popular reading material is comic

books, movie magazines, and TV guides. But how do you explain this? An annual book festival in west Los

Angeles is “sold out” year after year. People wait half an hour for a parking space to become available.

This outdoor festival, sponsored by a newspaper, takes place every April for one weekend. One of them

was visited by 70,000 people on Saturday and 75,000 people on Sunday. There were 280 publishers

exhibited there. About 90 authors talked to their readers and an audience question-and-answer period

followed each talk. Autograph lovers could find more than 150 authors. A food court sold all kinds of

popular and ethnic foods, from American hamburgers to Hawaiian shave ice drinks. Except for a $7 parking

fee, the festival was free.

People came from all over California. One couple drove down from San Francisco. “This is our sixth

year here now. We love it,” said the husband. “It’s just fantastic to be in the great outdoors, to be among so

many books and authors, and to get some very good deals, too.”

Comprehension questions

Choose the best variant

1.

Grown-ups prefer books which help them

a.

to get knowledge.

b.

to relax.

c. to meet their interests.

2.

E-books

a.

changed classic books.

b. are electronic devices.

c. can be read anytime.

3.

Audio books

a.

have a human voice.

b. help to kill the time.

c. are good for reading.

4.

Books are

a.

still important in modern life.

b. not so useful now.

c. replaced by the Internet.

5.

In Los Angeles people

a.

don’t read.

b. prefer light reading.

c. only watch films.

6.

A book festival in Los Angeles

a.

has become very popular.

b. is available.

c. will be “sold out”.

7.

The festival is paid by

a.

the people of Los Angeles.

b. publishers.

c. a newspaper.

8.

At the festival book lovers could

a.

talk to their favourite authors.

b. enjoy the summer days.

c. get 90 autographs.

9.

the festival is a nice place to visit as

a.

it doesn’t depend on the weather. b. is free

c. is well organized.

10. The festival is popular with

a.

some people from San Francisco.

b. Californians.

c. authors

Discussion questions

1.

What were your favourite books in childhood and what are they now?

2.

What do you think of e-books?

3.

Do you have audio books? Would you like to have them? Why?

4.

What makes the

book festival in Los Angeles successful?

5.

Would you like to visit a book festival?

Unit 7. POPULAR ARTS

At the Art Fair

Janice was making a project about art fairs. It was part of a school contest, so she was looking for

something of particular interest. Luckily, a very interesting Art Fair was going to open in her neighbourhood

and she invited her friend Trudy to go there.

At first the girls read some information about the fair. The Fernwood Library sponsored Fernwood’s

42nd Art Fair. The three-day event was held, as usual, at Memorial Park. Almost 100 artists were going to

show up each day. More than 1,000 guests were expected to walk through the shady park daily.

Janice and Trudy came to Memorial Park and saw that all kinds of art were on display and for sale.

Prices ranged from a couple of dollars to a couple of thousand dollars. They met Oscar, a native of Peru,

who was selling his beautiful paintings of the mountain village of Ayacucho, where he lives most of the year.

He told them that every year he came to the United States to sell his paintings at about five different art

shows.

Another interesting person they made friends with was Peter. Peter is a photographer. He travels

throughout the southwest US. One of his favorite areas is northeast Arizona. “That’s where Spider Rock is,”

he said, pointing to a beautiful colour photograph. “This rock, according to Navajo Indian legend, was the

home of Spider Woman, a goddess respected and admired by the tribe”.

Trudy was curious about Spider Woman and Peter took the girls to a Navajo woman. She was selling

her own carpets made of thread. She told the girls that Spider Woman thought only she could be perfect and

a Navajo tradition was to always make a little mistake in carpets, so Spider Woman would not become

angry.

The exhibit areas were located throughout the park. Artists’ creations included jewelry, ceramics, bird

houses, furniture, pottery, handmade musical instruments, music CDs, and sculpture. Almost all the artists

had their work displayed beneath shady canopies. “This was another successful year for our art fair,” said

the head librarian Mrs. Dooley. “The artists sold enough of their work to encourage them to return next year,

and the library raised almost $700 from sales of various items. We’ll use this money to purchase a few more

tables and chairs.”

Janice and Trudy learnt so much on that day!

Comprehension questions

Match

the people with what they did, fill in the table

People

1

artists

2

Mrs.

Dooley

3

guests

4

Janice

5

Navajo

woman

6

Oscar

7

Peter

8

Spider

Woman

9

Trudy

10

Trudy and

Janice

events

Who did this?

1.

Believed in a goddess.

2.

Lived on the mountain.

3.

Thought they would buy some furniture.

4.

Came to the US to sell his creations at different art fairs.

5.

Met interesting people and learnt a lot.

6.

Exhibited jewelry, ceramics, furniture and other creations of theirs throughout the park.

7.

Liked the legend.

8.

Had a bright idea.

9.

Took pictures.

10. Enjoyed a pleasant walk around the park.

Discussion questions

1.

Do you like to do project work?

2.

What do you think of the project Janice was going to do?

3.

Would you like to visit the Art Fair with her?

4.

Who was the most interesting person Trudy and Janice met?

5.

What kinds of art which were shown at the fair seem the most interesting to you?

Unit 8. SPORT IN OUR LIFE

American Football

Peter’s father got a job in the USA and the family was going to leave in 2 weeks. Peter, who was 13,

felt rather anxious about his new mates and the neighbourhood. He was nearly yellow. His mother saw this

and advised him to start preparing for the new way of life, to learn something particular about the new

country. Peter liked the idea. He thought he could find some useful information in the Net and started with

sports. This is what he found about American football.

The American type of football was developed in the 19th century from soccer and rugby football.

Played by professionals, amateurs, college, high school, or young children, football in America is one of the

most popular sports. It attracts millions of fans each fall and people are very supportive of their favorite

teams.

The football playing field of today is rectangular in shape and measures 100 yards long and 53.5

yards wide. White lines are painted on the playing field to mark off the distances to the end zone. The game

is divided into four quarters, each fifteen minutes long. The first two quarters are known as the first half.

There is a rest period between the two halves which usually lasts about fifteen minutes. The football is

made of leather and is brown in color. It is shaped much like an oval and has white rings near each end of

the football. These rings help the players see the ball when it is thrown or someone is running with it. The

eight stitches on the top of the football help players to grip or hold the ball when throwing or passing

Each team has eleven players. Each team has offensive players (play when the team has possession

of the ball) and defensive players (play when the other team has possession of the ball). Players are required

to wear protective equipment to help keep the body safe during the game. Helmets are worn to protect the

head and face area. Pads are worn to protect the shoulders, arms, and legs. Protective equipment must be

worn because of the body contact players have during the game.

Officials supervise the game and are considered to be very important to the game of football. They

carry whistles and flags and make certain that the rules of the game are followed during the game. The most

famous football game of the year is the Super Bowl that is played in January or February. It is televised

around the world and is watched by millions of people each year.

Comprehension questions

Choose the best variant

1.

How did Peter feel?

a. curios

b. afraid

c. happy

d. sad

2. Who plays American football?

a. professional players

b. college players

c. high school players

d. all of these

3. When does the football period take place?

a. all year round

b. in summer and autumn

c. in autumn and winter

d. in autumn

4. What shape is the football?

a. rectangular b. circle

c. triangle d. oval

5. How long does the game last?

a. an hour

b. more than an hour

c. half an hour

d. more than half an hour.

6. Why are there white rings on each end of the football?

a. to help players watch the ball

b. to make it look nice

c. to help players score d. to help

players run

7. Why do players need protective equipment during the game?

a. to make their uniforms fit

b. to keep the player safe

c. to protect the ball

d. to make touchdowns

8. What do officials do during the game of football?

a. watch the game b. take up tickets

c. watch the rules to be followed d. kick the ball

9. Which of the following is NOT true?

a. The football field is rectangular in shape.

b. The field measures 100 yards long and 53.5 yards wide.

c. The white lines are used to keep players safe.

d. The rest period between the halves lasts about fifteen minutes.

10. What does the word “grip” mean?

a. hold tightly b. score during the game

c. end zone d. supervise the game

Discussion questions

1.

What have you learnt from the text about American football?

2.

How much is it different from soccer and rugby?

3.

Is American football a dangerous game?

4.

Would you like to watch American football?

5.

Would you like to play American football?

Unit 9. EXPLORING THE WORLD

Thrift Shopping

Thrift stores are an amazing resource for getting great, high-quality, unique and inexpensive clothes

and other household items. Often, the offerings are perfectly good things that somebody else has outgrown

or simply grown tired of. There are also thrift book shops which are very popular with book lovers, as they

can find there something really rare.

Samuel was fond of books and visited book shops very often. And that time he was back at the thrift

shop. His only one goal in mind was to find a book that he hadn’t bought yesterday. The book was one of the

several that he had piled up yesterday. He was going to buy all of them. But at the last moment, he changed

his mind and put them all back on the shelf.

Samuel had a personal library at home that had 1,000 books – almost all unread. He subscribed to

seven magazines and one daily newspaper. Samuel had more reading material in his small apartment than he

could finish in two lifetimes, yet his wish to buy more books raged on.

He finally put his foot down. Not one more book, he told himself, unless it was really special.

Yesterday’s book fit the bill. It was a biography of one of his favorite authors – Stephen King. King is one of

America’s most popular fiction authors. But it wasn’t easy for King; early in his career, he didn’t please the

publishers and got hundreds of rejection slips. Samuel wanted to be a great writer. King was his role model.

Samuel immediately found one of the books he had piled up yesterday, and then another one. All right,

he thought. This was going to be easy. In minutes, he found all the books that he had held in his hands

yesterday, except one – the Stephen King book. Samuel took a walk throughout the store. Gee, what a

surprise, he thought. The one book that I want to find is the one book that I can’t find.

So for Samuel, the Big Hunt was on. He was now a man on a mission. Every thrift shop he went to

would involve looking for the King book. This added meaning to his thrift shop life. Samuel had held

something special in his hands. But only when he let it go did he realize its value. When he found it again,

he would place the King book prominently on his bookshelf. It would almost certainly be his favorite book

that he would never manage to read.

Comprehension questions

Mark the sentences: true, false or not mentioned

1.

Thrift shops sell high-quality things which are not expensive as they have already been bought by others.

2.

Thrift book shops sell only rear books.

3.

Samuel was going to buy seven books yesterday.

4.

Samuel didn’t read books from his home library very often.

5.

Samuel had decided to buy no more books.

6.

King’s writing career was always successful.

7.

Samuel’s wish was to be the same popular as Stephen King.

8.

Samuel was looking for the King book for a long time.

9.

Samuel understood how important the King book was for him at first sight.

10. The King book would almost certainly live the same life in Samuel’s library as all his other favourite

books.

Discussion questions

1.

What are thrift shops? Are they popular?

2.

Do you like to buy things in thrift shops?

3.

Have you ever bought a book in a thrift book shop?

4.

Do you think Samuel really loved books?

5.

Who buys books or magazines for your home library? Where?

Answer keys

Unit 1. KEYS: true – 1, 2, 6, 9, 10

false – 5, 7, 8

don’t know –3, 4

Unit 2. KEYS: true – 1, 2, 4, 9, 10

false – 6, 7

don’t know – 3, 5, 8

Unit 3. KEYS: 1. c

2. b

3. a

4. a

5. b

6. a

7. b

8. c

9. c

10. B

Unit 4. KEYS: true – 1, 6, 7, 8, 10

false – 2, 4, 9

don’t know – 3, 5

Unit 5. KEYS:

Country

1

Australia

2

Austria

3

Brazil

4

China

5

France

6

Germany

7

Israel

8

Italy

9

Mexico

10

Sweden

Event

6

9

1

3

7

2

10

5

4

8

Unit 6. KEYS: 1. – c, 2. – c, 3. – b, 4. – a, 5. – b, 6. – a, 7. – c, 8. – a, 9. –c, 10. – b

Unit 7.

KEYS:

People

1

artists

2

Mrs.

Dooley

3

guests

4

Janice

5

Navajo

woman

6

Oscar

7

Peter

8

Spider

Woman

9

Trudy

10

Trudy and

Janice

events

6

3

10

8

1

4

9

2

7

5

Unit 8. KEYS: 1. b

2. d

3. c

4. d

5. b

6. a

7. b

8. c

9. c

10. a

Unit 9. KEYS: true – 1, 4, 7, 10

false – 2, 5, 6, 9

don’t know –3, 8