End of Year Test. Reading. Focus 3

Dan’s revenge

The lights went off in the studio. Almost immediately, the tension in the air seemed to disappear. Some of the actors stood and chatted together. Others stood alone, stretching their aching muscles. The extras left the area quickly, no longer a part of the team, unappreciated and unwanted. Any who stayed hoping for a kind word of praise or advice were sent running by the security men who were there to protect the studio’s stars from anything that might disturb them.

Only one actor noticed this and felt guilt and anger at the same time. Dan had worked his way up from being an extra himself. Anger because he remembered the way he had been treated and, although he wasn’t close to the extras he was working with, he hated it happening to them. Guilt because he wasn’t brave enough to speak out. He was still very much a junior member of the cast and he knew he could be sent back to where he came from if he upset his more famous colleagues.

As he stood, lost in thought, he noticed Elmira Ray, the highest-paid star in the studio and one of the romantic leads in this movie. He smiled and made a friendly remark about the difficulties she’d had getting one of her scenes right. Elmira glared at him with hatred and turned away to where the director was deep in discussion with the producer. Elmira’s screaming voice was very unlike anything her fans had ever heard but it was well-known by all who worked with her. Her message was clear. She wanted Dan off the set, off the movie and, if possible, out of Hollywood. The director and producer exchanged knowing glances. They disliked Elmira intensely but they also knew how much she was worth to the studio. Whatever their feelings for Dan, if Elmira didn’t want to work with him, he would have to go.

They called Dan over. They didn’t have to say anything. One look was enough for Dan. He’d been in the business long enough to know how things worked. ‘Oh well,’ he thought, ‘It has been fun while it lasted.’ He knew he could ask around at the other studios for work but his heart wasn’t in it anymore. He disliked the work, he disliked the people and he hated living in Los Angeles. He would go to the party that he had been invited to earlier that week but he would spend the time having fun, not desperately trying to impress people and begging for work. Tomorrow, he’d pack and head back east to New York.

At eight o’clock that evening, wearing jeans rather than the usual dark suit, he arrived at an already packed villa high in Beverly Hills. As he walked in, he noticed Elmira. She glanced at him with no sign of recognition. He was no-one important. Nothing to do with her or her life. She passed him and moved on, searching for more famous faces to spend her time with. Suddenly Dan knew what he had to do.

Read the extract from a novel. Choose the answer (A, B, C or D) which you think best fits according to the text.

1 When they finished filming,

Dan’s revenge

The lights went off in the studio. Almost immediately, the tension in the air seemed to disappear. Some of the actors stood and chatted together. Others stood alone, stretching their aching muscles. The extras left the area quickly, no longer a part of the team, unappreciated and unwanted. Any who stayed hoping for a kind word of praise or advice were sent running by the security men who were there to protect the studio’s stars from anything that might disturb them.

Only one actor noticed this and felt guilt and anger at the same time. Dan had worked his way up from being an extra himself. Anger because he remembered the way he had been treated and, although he wasn’t close to the extras he was working with, he hated it happening to them. Guilt because he wasn’t brave enough to speak out. He was still very much a junior member of the cast and he knew he could be sent back to where he came from if he upset his more famous colleagues.

As he stood, lost in thought, he noticed Elmira Ray, the highest-paid star in the studio and one of the romantic leads in this movie. He smiled and made a friendly remark about the difficulties she’d had getting one of her scenes right. Elmira glared at him with hatred and turned away to where the director was deep in discussion with the producer. Elmira’s screaming voice was very unlike anything her fans had ever heard but it was well-known by all who worked with her. Her message was clear. She wanted Dan off the set, off the movie and, if possible, out of Hollywood. The director and producer exchanged knowing glances. They disliked Elmira intensely but they also knew how much she was worth to the studio. Whatever their feelings for Dan, if Elmira didn’t want to work with him, he would have to go.

They called Dan over. They didn’t have to say anything. One look was enough for Dan. He’d been in the business long enough to know how things worked. ‘Oh well,’ he thought, ‘It has been fun while it lasted.’ He knew he could ask around at the other studios for work but his heart wasn’t in it anymore. He disliked the work, he disliked the people and he hated living in Los Angeles. He would go to the party that he had been invited to earlier that week but he would spend the time having fun, not desperately trying to impress people and begging for work. Tomorrow, he’d pack and head back east to New York.

At eight o’clock that evening, wearing jeans rather than the usual dark suit, he arrived at an already packed villa high in Beverly Hills. As he walked in, he noticed Elmira. She glanced at him with no sign of recognition. He was no-one important. Nothing to do with her or her life. She passed him and moved on, searching for more famous faces to spend her time with. Suddenly Dan knew what he had to do.

2 Dan’s feelings of guilt and anger were caused by the fact

that he

Dan’s revenge

The lights went off in the studio. Almost immediately, the tension in the air seemed to disappear. Some of the actors stood and chatted together. Others stood alone, stretching their aching muscles. The extras left the area quickly, no longer a part of the team, unappreciated and unwanted. Any who stayed hoping for a kind word of praise or advice were sent running by the security men who were there to protect the studio’s stars from anything that might disturb them.

Only one actor noticed this and felt guilt and anger at the same time. Dan had worked his way up from being an extra himself. Anger because he remembered the way he had been treated and, although he wasn’t close to the extras he was working with, he hated it happening to them. Guilt because he wasn’t brave enough to speak out. He was still very much a junior member of the cast and he knew he could be sent back to where he came from if he upset his more famous colleagues.

As he stood, lost in thought, he noticed Elmira Ray, the highest-paid star in the studio and one of the romantic leads in this movie. He smiled and made a friendly remark about the difficulties she’d had getting one of her scenes right. Elmira glared at him with hatred and turned away to where the director was deep in discussion with the producer. Elmira’s screaming voice was very unlike anything her fans had ever heard but it was well-known by all who worked with her. Her message was clear. She wanted Dan off the set, off the movie and, if possible, out of Hollywood. The director and producer exchanged knowing glances. They disliked Elmira intensely but they also knew how much she was worth to the studio. Whatever their feelings for Dan, if Elmira didn’t want to work with him, he would have to go.

They called Dan over. They didn’t have to say anything. One look was enough for Dan. He’d been in the business long enough to know how things worked. ‘Oh well,’ he thought, ‘It has been fun while it lasted.’ He knew he could ask around at the other studios for work but his heart wasn’t in it anymore. He disliked the work, he disliked the people and he hated living in Los Angeles. He would go to the party that he had been invited to earlier that week but he would spend the time having fun, not desperately trying to impress people and begging for work. Tomorrow, he’d pack and head back east to New York.

At eight o’clock that evening, wearing jeans rather than the usual dark suit, he arrived at an already packed villa high in Beverly Hills. As he walked in, he noticed Elmira. She glanced at him with no sign of recognition. He was no-one important. Nothing to do with her or her life. She passed him and moved on, searching for more famous faces to spend her time with. Suddenly Dan knew what he had to do.

3 When Elmira spoke to the director,

Dan’s revenge

The lights went off in the studio. Almost immediately, the tension in the air seemed to disappear. Some of the actors stood and chatted together. Others stood alone, stretching their aching muscles. The extras left the area quickly, no longer a part of the team, unappreciated and unwanted. Any who stayed hoping for a kind word of praise or advice were sent running by the security men who were there to protect the studio’s stars from anything that might disturb them.

Only one actor noticed this and felt guilt and anger at the same time. Dan had worked his way up from being an extra himself. Anger because he remembered the way he had been treated and, although he wasn’t close to the extras he was working with, he hated it happening to them. Guilt because he wasn’t brave enough to speak out. He was still very much a junior member of the cast and he knew he could be sent back to where he came from if he upset his more famous colleagues.

As he stood, lost in thought, he noticed Elmira Ray, the highest-paid star in the studio and one of the romantic leads in this movie. He smiled and made a friendly remark about the difficulties she’d had getting one of her scenes right. Elmira glared at him with hatred and turned away to where the director was deep in discussion with the producer. Elmira’s screaming voice was very unlike anything her fans had ever heard but it was well-known by all who worked with her. Her message was clear. She wanted Dan off the set, off the movie and, if possible, out of Hollywood. The director and producer exchanged knowing glances. They disliked Elmira intensely but they also knew how much she was worth to the studio. Whatever their feelings for Dan, if Elmira didn’t want to work with him, he would have to go.

They called Dan over. They didn’t have to say anything. One look was enough for Dan. He’d been in the business long enough to know how things worked. ‘Oh well,’ he thought, ‘It has been fun while it lasted.’ He knew he could ask around at the other studios for work but his heart wasn’t in it anymore. He disliked the work, he disliked the people and he hated living in Los Angeles. He would go to the party that he had been invited to earlier that week but he would spend the time having fun, not desperately trying to impress people and begging for work. Tomorrow, he’d pack and head back east to New York.

At eight o’clock that evening, wearing jeans rather than the usual dark suit, he arrived at an already packed villa high in Beverly Hills. As he walked in, he noticed Elmira. She glanced at him with no sign of recognition. He was no-one important. Nothing to do with her or her life. She passed him and moved on, searching for more famous faces to spend her time with. Suddenly Dan knew what he had to do.

4 When Dan found out that he was no longer wanted, he

Dan’s revenge

The lights went off in the studio. Almost immediately, the tension in the air seemed to disappear. Some of the actors stood and chatted together. Others stood alone, stretching their aching muscles. The extras left the area quickly, no longer a part of the team, unappreciated and unwanted. Any who stayed hoping for a kind word of praise or advice were sent running by the security men who were there to protect the studio’s stars from anything that might disturb them.

Only one actor noticed this and felt guilt and anger at the same time. Dan had worked his way up from being an extra himself. Anger because he remembered the way he had been treated and, although he wasn’t close to the extras he was working with, he hated it happening to them. Guilt because he wasn’t brave enough to speak out. He was still very much a junior member of the cast and he knew he could be sent back to where he came from if he upset his more famous colleagues.

As he stood, lost in thought, he noticed Elmira Ray, the highest-paid star in the studio and one of the romantic leads in this movie. He smiled and made a friendly remark about the difficulties she’d had getting one of her scenes right. Elmira glared at him with hatred and turned away to where the director was deep in discussion with the producer. Elmira’s screaming voice was very unlike anything her fans had ever heard but it was well-known by all who worked with her. Her message was clear. She wanted Dan off the set, off the movie and, if possible, out of Hollywood. The director and producer exchanged knowing glances. They disliked Elmira intensely but they also knew how much she was worth to the studio. Whatever their feelings for Dan, if Elmira didn’t want to work with him, he would have to go.

They called Dan over. They didn’t have to say anything. One look was enough for Dan. He’d been in the business long enough to know how things worked. ‘Oh well,’ he thought, ‘It has been fun while it lasted.’ He knew he could ask around at the other studios for work but his heart wasn’t in it anymore. He disliked the work, he disliked the people and he hated living in Los Angeles. He would go to the party that he had been invited to earlier that week but he would spend the time having fun, not desperately trying to impress people and begging for work. Tomorrow, he’d pack and head back east to New York.

At eight o’clock that evening, wearing jeans rather than the usual dark suit, he arrived at an already packed villa high in Beverly Hills. As he walked in, he noticed Elmira. She glanced at him with no sign of recognition. He was no-one important. Nothing to do with her or her life. She passed him and moved on, searching for more famous faces to spend her time with. Suddenly Dan knew what he had to do.

5 In the text, we learn

 Read the leaflet asking for volunteers for different schemes.

HELP OUT AT YOUR LOCAL FOOD BANK

Volunteers are urgently needed to operate food banks in our area. We have had foodbanks in our towns and cities for many years. (1)            However, with the growing problem of low wages and high prices, even some families with parents in work now use them. They are therefore more important than ever.

We are not asking for financial help. Supermarkets, charities, and other organisations provide the food that we need. Local business leaders have helped to finance our centres. What we need is keen volunteers who can give their time. (2)            We will train you to give help and advice to people as well as providing phone numbers of organisations that people can contact if they need financial help.

BE A PART OF YOUR LOCAL NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH

Would you like to play a bigger part in helping your community? Why not sign up to join a neighbourhood watch scheme? Being part of a scheme gives you the security of knowing that other people are keeping an eye out for any suspicious behaviour and reporting it to the authorities.

(3)            It also reduces the number of crimes committed.

If you join up, you will receive emails with reports of burglaries or other problems in your area. (4)            For example, they will give tips on how to secure your home better and what to ask if people come to your door claiming that they are collecting money for charities. In addition, some funding is available for burglar alarms.

HELP MAKE ‘REHABILITATION IN THE WORKPLACE’ A SUCCESS

We are calling on all business people to help us with our new Rehabilitation in the Workplace scheme. The aim is to provide work for people who have recently been released from prison. Despite some opposition from those who think that we should be doing more to help those who haven’t committed any crimes, we believe this will bring benefits to everyone.

(5)            This is an official government-funded scheme, so half of the wages and all the employment insurance and taxes of anyone on the scheme will be paid for you. A trial of the scheme has been running for the last six months in the London area and, if you wish, you can read reactions of employers who have taken on employees on our website.

Choose from sentences A–F the one which fits each gap (1–5). There is one extra sentence.

A We need people to check that the food isn’t out of date, pack it in boxes and, most importantly, chat with the people who come into the centres.

B It can also help you cut costs.

C An increasing number of people are making use of this scheme.

D These will also give advice on personal security.

E Traditionally, they gave food to the homeless.

F This can be a real comfort, especially for people who live alone.

1.

Read the leaflet asking for volunteers for different schemes.

HELP OUT AT YOUR LOCAL FOOD BANK

Volunteers are urgently needed to operate food banks in our area. We have had foodbanks in our towns and cities for many years. (1)            However, with the growing problem of low wages and high prices, even some families with parents in work now use them. They are therefore more important than ever.

We are not asking for financial help. Supermarkets, charities, and other organisations provide the food that we need. Local business leaders have helped to finance our centres. What we need is keen volunteers who can give their time. (2)            We will train you to give help and advice to people as well as providing phone numbers of organisations that people can contact if they need financial help.

BE A PART OF YOUR LOCAL NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH

Would you like to play a bigger part in helping your community? Why not sign up to join a neighbourhood watch scheme? Being part of a scheme gives you the security of knowing that other people are keeping an eye out for any suspicious behaviour and reporting it to the authorities.

(3)            It also reduces the number of crimes committed.

If you join up, you will receive emails with reports of burglaries or other problems in your area. (4)            For example, they will give tips on how to secure your home better and what to ask if people come to your door claiming that they are collecting money for charities. In addition, some funding is available for burglar alarms.

HELP MAKE ‘REHABILITATION IN THE WORKPLACE’ A SUCCESS

We are calling on all business people to help us with our new Rehabilitation in the Workplace scheme. The aim is to provide work for people who have recently been released from prison. Despite some opposition from those who think that we should be doing more to help those who haven’t committed any crimes, we believe this will bring benefits to everyone.

(5)            This is an official government-funded scheme, so half of the wages and all the employment insurance and taxes of anyone on the scheme will be paid for you. A trial of the scheme has been running for the last six months in the London area and, if you wish, you can read reactions of employers who have taken on employees on our website.

Choose from sentences A–F the one which fits each gap (1–5). There is one extra sentence.

A We need people to check that the food isn’t out of date, pack it in boxes and, most importantly, chat with the people who come into the centres.

B It can also help you cut costs.

C An increasing number of people are making use of this scheme.

D These will also give advice on personal security.

E Traditionally, they gave food to the homeless.

F This can be a real comfort, especially for people who live alone.

2.

Read the leaflet asking for volunteers for different schemes.

HELP OUT AT YOUR LOCAL FOOD BANK

Volunteers are urgently needed to operate food banks in our area. We have had foodbanks in our towns and cities for many years. (1)            However, with the growing problem of low wages and high prices, even some families with parents in work now use them. They are therefore more important than ever.

We are not asking for financial help. Supermarkets, charities, and other organisations provide the food that we need. Local business leaders have helped to finance our centres. What we need is keen volunteers who can give their time. (2)            We will train you to give help and advice to people as well as providing phone numbers of organisations that people can contact if they need financial help.

BE A PART OF YOUR LOCAL NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH

Would you like to play a bigger part in helping your community? Why not sign up to join a neighbourhood watch scheme? Being part of a scheme gives you the security of knowing that other people are keeping an eye out for any suspicious behaviour and reporting it to the authorities.

(3)            It also reduces the number of crimes committed.

If you join up, you will receive emails with reports of burglaries or other problems in your area. (4)            For example, they will give tips on how to secure your home better and what to ask if people come to your door claiming that they are collecting money for charities. In addition, some funding is available for burglar alarms.

HELP MAKE ‘REHABILITATION IN THE WORKPLACE’ A SUCCESS

We are calling on all business people to help us with our new Rehabilitation in the Workplace scheme. The aim is to provide work for people who have recently been released from prison. Despite some opposition from those who think that we should be doing more to help those who haven’t committed any crimes, we believe this will bring benefits to everyone.

(5)            This is an official government-funded scheme, so half of the wages and all the employment insurance and taxes of anyone on the scheme will be paid for you. A trial of the scheme has been running for the last six months in the London area and, if you wish, you can read reactions of employers who have taken on employees on our website.

Choose from sentences A–F the one which fits each gap (1–5). There is one extra sentence.

A We need people to check that the food isn’t out of date, pack it in boxes and, most importantly, chat with the people who come into the centres.

B It can also help you cut costs.

C An increasing number of people are making use of this scheme.

D These will also give advice on personal security.

E Traditionally, they gave food to the homeless.

F This can be a real comfort, especially for people who live alone.

3.

Read the leaflet asking for volunteers for different schemes.

HELP OUT AT YOUR LOCAL FOOD BANK

Volunteers are urgently needed to operate food banks in our area. We have had foodbanks in our towns and cities for many years. (1)            However, with the growing problem of low wages and high prices, even some families with parents in work now use them. They are therefore more important than ever.

We are not asking for financial help. Supermarkets, charities, and other organisations provide the food that we need. Local business leaders have helped to finance our centres. What we need is keen volunteers who can give their time. (2)            We will train you to give help and advice to people as well as providing phone numbers of organisations that people can contact if they need financial help.

BE A PART OF YOUR LOCAL NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH

Would you like to play a bigger part in helping your community? Why not sign up to join a neighbourhood watch scheme? Being part of a scheme gives you the security of knowing that other people are keeping an eye out for any suspicious behaviour and reporting it to the authorities.

(3)            It also reduces the number of crimes committed.

If you join up, you will receive emails with reports of burglaries or other problems in your area. (4)            For example, they will give tips on how to secure your home better and what to ask if people come to your door claiming that they are collecting money for charities. In addition, some funding is available for burglar alarms.

HELP MAKE ‘REHABILITATION IN THE WORKPLACE’ A SUCCESS

We are calling on all business people to help us with our new Rehabilitation in the Workplace scheme. The aim is to provide work for people who have recently been released from prison. Despite some opposition from those who think that we should be doing more to help those who haven’t committed any crimes, we believe this will bring benefits to everyone.

(5)            This is an official government-funded scheme, so half of the wages and all the employment insurance and taxes of anyone on the scheme will be paid for you. A trial of the scheme has been running for the last six months in the London area and, if you wish, you can read reactions of employers who have taken on employees on our website.

Choose from sentences A–F the one which fits each gap (1–5). There is one extra sentence.

A We need people to check that the food isn’t out of date, pack it in boxes and, most importantly, chat with the people who come into the centres.

B It can also help you cut costs.

C An increasing number of people are making use of this scheme.

D These will also give advice on personal security.

E Traditionally, they gave food to the homeless.

F This can be a real comfort, especially for people who live alone.

4.

Read the leaflet asking for volunteers for different schemes.

HELP OUT AT YOUR LOCAL FOOD BANK

Volunteers are urgently needed to operate food banks in our area. We have had foodbanks in our towns and cities for many years. (1)            However, with the growing problem of low wages and high prices, even some families with parents in work now use them. They are therefore more important than ever.

We are not asking for financial help. Supermarkets, charities, and other organisations provide the food that we need. Local business leaders have helped to finance our centres. What we need is keen volunteers who can give their time. (2)            We will train you to give help and advice to people as well as providing phone numbers of organisations that people can contact if they need financial help.

BE A PART OF YOUR LOCAL NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH

Would you like to play a bigger part in helping your community? Why not sign up to join a neighbourhood watch scheme? Being part of a scheme gives you the security of knowing that other people are keeping an eye out for any suspicious behaviour and reporting it to the authorities.

(3)            It also reduces the number of crimes committed.

If you join up, you will receive emails with reports of burglaries or other problems in your area. (4)            For example, they will give tips on how to secure your home better and what to ask if people come to your door claiming that they are collecting money for charities. In addition, some funding is available for burglar alarms.

HELP MAKE ‘REHABILITATION IN THE WORKPLACE’ A SUCCESS

We are calling on all business people to help us with our new Rehabilitation in the Workplace scheme. The aim is to provide work for people who have recently been released from prison. Despite some opposition from those who think that we should be doing more to help those who haven’t committed any crimes, we believe this will bring benefits to everyone.

(5)            This is an official government-funded scheme, so half of the wages and all the employment insurance and taxes of anyone on the scheme will be paid for you. A trial of the scheme has been running for the last six months in the London area and, if you wish, you can read reactions of employers who have taken on employees on our website.

Choose from sentences A–F the one which fits each gap (1–5). There is one extra sentence.

A We need people to check that the food isn’t out of date, pack it in boxes and, most importantly, chat with the people who come into the centres.

B It can also help you cut costs.

C An increasing number of people are making use of this scheme.

D These will also give advice on personal security.

E Traditionally, they gave food to the homeless.

F This can be a real comfort, especially for people who live alone.

5.