Reading Test

Task I. Read the texts below. Match choices to the paragraphs. There are three choices you do not need to use.

Safe, comfortable and, above all, green. Electric-powered cars will not produce any substances which are dangerous for either people or the environment. In 10-20 years all cars will have their own built- in computers. These computers will help choose the best way to go and avoid accidents. You can even sit back and let the computer do the driving!

Task I. Read the texts below. Match choices to the paragraphs. There are three choices you do not need to use.

As you know, personal computers use a lot of power. In fact, with their printers and monitors, computers in the USA use each year as much electricity as the whole state of Oregon. Not to waste electricity, new “green” computers are being developed by more than a hundred personal computer firms in the USA. When left on but unused for more than a few minutes, they go down to a standby, using 80 per cent less energy. At a command the PCs return to full power.

Task I. Read the texts below. Match choices to the paragraphs. There are three choices you do not need to use.

Nowadays, people working in offices use computers, which contain hundreds of documents. Do you know how much space these documents would take up, if they were printed on paper? They’d occupy whole rooms! In many offices computers are linked in a network. This way, employees can exchange information and messages without moving from their tables.

Task I. Read the texts below. Match choices to the paragraphs. There are three choices you do not need to use.

Technology has allowed more and more people to work from the place where they live. Using a modem on a telephone line connected to their computer, everyone can be linked to the company computer. In this way, they don’t waste so much time, because they don’t have to go to the office every day. It also means less pollution in the atmosphere caused by transport.

Task I. Read the texts below. Match choices to the paragraphs. There are three choices you do not need to use.

Good-bye, pencils! Farewell, sheets of paper! These days’ cartoons are being made with a computer. The first-ever cartoon to be created by computer was “Toy Story” produced by Steve Jobs. A typical Walt Disney cartoon usually needs up to 600 designers. “Toy Story” was made using only 100. So, like so much of modern life, today’s cinema seems to be falling more and more into the hands of the computer.

Task II. Read the text and match the correct heading (A-F) with each paragraph (1-4). There are two extra headings that you do not need to use.

1. _

A generation gap exists. Teenage children demand more freedom and pocket money, while their parents try to remain in control by not allowing them to do a lot of things they want. Studies show that the main reason for conflict is that parents and teenagers have different expectations. Surprisingly, it is not the teenagers’ need for more independence or financial demands which usually drives their parents mad, it’s their rooms.     

Task II. Read the text and match the correct heading (A-F) with each paragraph (1-4). There are two extra headings that you do not need to use.

2. _

One argument happens because parents and teenagers have a completely different definition of what ‘clean’ should mean. While most parents are reasonable enough not to make their teens tidy their room every day, perhaps, apart from making the bed, they insist on a regular cleaning schedule. In most cases, this should take place at least once a week. Their teenage children, however, often like to avoid this, or, at least, do the job as rarely and as quickly as possible.

Task II. Read the text and match the correct heading (A-F) with each paragraph (1-4). There are two extra headings that you do not need to use.

3. _

The survey has also indicated that lots of parents find it hard to accept the way their teenagers’ rooms are decorated. Arguments may start even before a the teenager moves into his room over the choice of furniture or the colour of the walls. And it doesn’t get any easier for the parents later on. Most of them do not approve of the posters, which often show controversial images, not to mention such ideas as graffiti or hand-painted scenes on the walls or ceiling.

Task II. Read the text and match the correct heading (A-F) with each paragraph (1-4). There are two extra headings that you do not need to use.

4. _

Parents and teenagers also disagree over privacy issues. It is true that most parents recognise the need for their teens to have some degree of privacy and, therefore, allow them to keep their room door closed. But they also admit that although they try to remember to knock on their child’s door, they often enter while still knocking which is almost the same as coming in with no warning at all. Not surprisingly, teenagers react to this with anger.

Task III. Read the following three texts. For each question choose the answer (A, B or C) which you think fits best according to the text.

Text 1.

I parked the car in the hospital car park, grabbed the bag and walked into the hospital building. I quickly glanced at my watch to check the time, as I was in a hurry. But it was only a few minutes after 10 am. For a moment, I considered visiting the doctor and asking about John’s illness, but I gave up this idea. ‘Well, if he’s busy or in a bad mood, he doesn’t really have to talk to me at all’, I thought. I knew that the hospital staff did not want to discuss information about their patients to anyone except members of their closest family, and, despite being a relative, I couldn’t be counted among them.

1. The writer decides not to talk to the doctor because...

Task III. Text 2.

Just a really quick line to say that the operation went well and everything is looking good. The doctors are pleased with me, so you mustn’t worry – although I know you will! I should be back on my feet in a few days and with luck I’ll be back home by the weekend. It’s been a painful couple of days since the accident but it was my own fault! Sorry I missed your call earlier. I’d left my phone in my bag. I’ll give you a ring after dinner this evening. I hope you’re feeling better too – you had a terrible cough last time we spoke. See you very soon.

2. The writer of the email wants...

Task III. Text 3.

Doctors are very busy people these days and it isn’t always easy to get an appointment when you have a problem. For this reason some surgeries are asking their patients to email their doctor when they are worried about their health. This means that doctors can deal with more problems quickly and will be able to decide which patients need to come physically to the surgery. Of course, not everyone welcomes this way of diagnosing health issues but it seems a positive step forward in this technological age.

3. The article is about...