The control-reading for the 8th form pupils
the first term.
I. Read the first text and do the tasks,
My favourite writer.
My name is John, I am thirteen years old. I iive in England, in Nottingham. I am fond of reading English literature. We've got a big home library. My favourite writer is Charles Dickens. He was born in 1812 and lived till 1 870. He is one of England's greatest writers. At a young age Dickens was forced to work in a factory under terrible conditions. The boy's childhood was very hard and sad. Then Dickens worked as a reporter in law courts and later for London newspapers. In 1837 he published his comic novel "The Pickwick Papers" which made him popular. A long line of successful novels followed: "Oliver Twist" (1837), "A Christmas Carol" (1843), "A Tale of Two Cities" (1859) and "Great Expectations" (1861). Dickens saw all the social evils of the English society and they worried him greatly. I'd like to point to the most favourite books of mine written by this famous writer. The first one is a novel "David Copperfield" which he wrote in 1849 - 1850. This novel is partly based on Dickens's early life and his struggle to become a writer. The characters in the book were actual people Dickens knew while many adventures of the hero, David Copperfield, were part of his own experience as a young boy. Another novel which is worth reading is "A Christmas Carol". It's a wonderful story written by Dickens more than a century and a half ago. The writer wanted to show that love, care and patience: were much, stronger that greediness, anger and hatred. People of all generations and of all times should remember about it.
1. Write what these numbers refer to :
1812_____1837_______ 1843_______ 1849-1850________
2. Answer the questions.
1. What is John's favourite writer?
2. What was Dicken's childhood?
3. What book made him popular?
4. What is "David Copperfield" based on?
II. Read the text
Entertainments.
There is a plenty of entertainments in the world and people can choose them according to their tastes, mood or maybe opportunities. Entertainments include films, TV. books, concerts, cinemas, theatres, discos, travelling and different parties. Some families prefer to take their children to museums, art galleries or parks at the weekend. It's a nice way of spending free time together for the whole family. It is quite normal for British families to visit theme parks in summer. The amusements on offer at such parks include a range of rides in various ways, some of them can bathe you in the water. The really adventurous rides turn you upside down at great speed. It's very exciting for all visitors. And this must be how the British enjoy themselves most because last year the nine most famous theme parks attracted more than twenty million visitors. The British Museum is another place which attracts people in their free time. It is officially described as the National Library and Museum of History, Archaeology, Art and Ethnography. Here it is possible to find great collections, including exhibits from the Pacific islands (ancient Polynesian idols) and America (the Aztec sculptures).
3. What are the entertainments in the text? Copy out them of the text.
4. Mark the sentences true or false.
1. People have got a great variety of entertainments.
2. Their choice depends on their tastes only.
3. A cinema and a theatre are a part of entertainment.
4. British families visit theatres at the weekend.
5. The most adventurous moment in a theme park is bathing in the water.
6. Theme parks are very popular with British families.
5. Translate the sentences into English using the text.
1. У наші дні є багато розваг у світі.
2. Деякі сім'ї люблять водити своїх дітей в музеї, картинні галереї на вихідних.
3. Минулого року дев'ять тематичних парків привабили більше ніж 20 мільйонів відвідувачів.
4.Один із захоплюючих атракціонів є поїздка догори ногами з високою швидкістю.