Reading Comprehension "A Book Review"

Summative Reading Test II

Form 8

It was a dull night. The two men, Lacey and Barnes, waited in their car about a quarter of a mile from the big house. They sat there in the darkness, smoking, hardly talking. It was now a little after midnight.

At last they saw a light in one of the upstairs windows. It flashed once, twice, three times. “That’s the signal,” Lacey said. Both men got out of the car. They were wearing dark clothes. They now put on gloves. Lacey had a small bag of tools.

“Can I bring the gun?” Barnes asked.

“How many times must I tell you! No guns!” Lacey snapped. “Not while you’re working with me.”

They entered the garden through a small side gate.

“I hope there aren’t any dogs,” Barnes said as they crept round the edge of the garden. They were going towards the back of the house.

“There are no dogs and no people here,” Lacey told him. “Except for our friend upstairs. Now keep quiet and follow me!”

They entered a big yard at the back of the house.

“That’s the window over there,” Lacey said, pointing to a small window near the kitchen door. “You wait here. I’ll get through the kitchen window. If I can’t open the door, you’ll have to climb through the window too.”

Lacey crossed the yard. He opened the window without difficulty and climbed through. But the kitchen door was locked and the key was not there. He went to the window and whistled to Barnes.

“You’ll have to climb through the window, too,” he said.

Just at that moment they heard the sound of a car. It was approaching the house at great speed and its lights lit up the house as it got nearer. People got out and they could hear voices.

“It’s the police!” Barnes said. “It’s a trap. I knew it!”

“Don’t panic!” Lacey told him. “Now listen to me. Go back to the car and wait for me there. I’ll join you as soon as I can. Off you go – and keep well in the shadows.”

flash –блискати, спалахувати

snap – огризатися

creep –крастися, підкрадатися

whistle - свистіти

                             Summative Reading Test II                                                Form 8

I. Complete the sentences, using the words in the box.

1. We arrived very late – after ____________________ in fact. The door was locked and I hadn’t got a ___________________.
2. The bag was completely empty ____________________ for a pair of dark ______________.
3. When I give the _____________________, run round the edge of the __________________ three times! Right! Off you go!
4. Don’t __________________ ! He hasn’t got a _______________ and he isn’t dangerous.
5. Please keep ________________! It disturbs me when you _________________ like that.

II. Choose the right answer.

1. Lacey and Barnes were waiting for _______

1.       midnight                b) a signal                     c) a friend    

2. The signal told them to _______

1.       go to the house       b)   stop smoking         c)   stop talking

3. Barnes wanted to ______

1.       put on his gloves      b)    take his tools        c)   take his gun

4. Lacey and Barnes went to the house ______

1.       quietly                      b)    quickly                 c)    silently

5. Lacey got into the house. He then wanted to _____

1.       open the door          b)   break down the door       c)   open the window

6. Before Barnes could get into the house   _______

1.       people shouted        b)   there was a fire       c)   a car came

7. Barnes was afraid that the police were trying to ______

1.       catch them                b)   kill them                c)   hurt them

8. Lacey and Barnes went away from the house _______

1.       one after the other      b)   together               c)   without lights

III. Put the sentences in the right order.

1. Lacey could not open the kitchen door. ______
2. Lacey and Barnes came to a yard. _____
3. A car approached the house. _____
4. Lacey and Barnes entered the garden through a small gate. ____
5. Lacey crossed the yard to the kitchen. ____
6. Lacey got into the house through a small window. ____
7. Lacey and Barnes crept round the side of the garden. _____
8. Lacey called to Barnes. _____
9. Lacey told Barnes to wait. _____

IV. Do you like detective stories? Who is your favourite author? What is your favoutite book? Write a short review of your favourite book.

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