8 КЛАС  ___________________________________________________

SEMESTER I

READING COMPREHENSION TEST

 THE FIRE ON THE HILL 

     Long, long ago there was a lake of cold water in Kenya.  Many animals came at night to the lake to drink some water. But people never came to the lake at night: the animals could kill and eat them.               

Now, a rich man who had a beautiful daughter once said: „The young man, who will go to the lake in the evening and stay in the cold water till morning, will have my daughter for his wife."

There lived a poor young man who loved the rich man's daughter very much. He said to his mother, „I shall try to stay all night in the lake and then marry my dear girl".

„No, no", the mother said, „you are my only son!". The water in the lake is very cold, and the animals will eat you up. Don't go there!" She cried and cried, but her son said: „Mother, don't cry, I must try. I love her so much!"

So the young man went to the girl's father. He told him that he wanted to go to the lake and stay in the cold water all night. The rich man sent his servants to the place where they could watch the young man.

When night carne, the young man went to the lake and his mother followed him, but he didn't see her. There was a hill forty paces away from the place where the young man went into the water. The woman climbed up the hill and made up a fire there. The wild animals saw the fire and were afraid to go near that place.

The young man saw the fire too. He understood that his mother was there. He thought of his mother's love, and it was easier for him to stay all night in the very cold water.

Morning came. The young man went to the rich man's house. The rich man saw him and said, „My servants say that there was a fire on the hill forty paces from the lake. It warmed you and that is why you could stay all night in the water. So you can't marry my daughter. Good-bye".

     The   young   man   was    very    angry.   He went to the judge.  “Well”, 

the judge said, „this is a very simple case".

The next morning the young man with his mother and the rich man with his servants came before the judge. There were many people there who wanted to hear the case.

The judge asked for a pot of cold water. Then he walked forty paces from the pot and made a fire. „Now", he said, „we shall wait a little until the water is warm". The people cried: „But the fire is so far away, it can't warm the water in the pot". Then the judge said: „How could that young man warm himself at a fire forty paces away?"

So the case was over, and the young man married the rich man's daughter. They lived happily for many years.

READING COMPREHENSION TEST

I  Read the text and put “+” if the sentence is right and “-“if one is  false.

1. There was a river of cold water in Kenya.
2. A rich man had a beautiful daughter.
3. A poor young man loved his daughter very much.
4. Mother wanted that her son married the rich man’s daughter.
5. The rich man sent his servants to the lake.
6. There was a hill thirty paces away from the lake.
7. The mother made a fire to warm the place.

II  Find the correct answer.

1.  What was the lake famous for?

a) for its good clear water; b) for its animals living close to it; c) for the fact that people were afraid to go there at night; d) for the fact that the lake was very old.

2. What did a rich man want the young man to do?

a) to go to the lake; b) to stay in the cold water; c) to stay in the river all night; d) to marry his daughter

3.  Why did the mother cry? 

a) because she worried about her son; b) because she was afraid of animals;  c) because the water was too cold. d) because she wanted her son to marry.

4. Where did the mother go?

a) to the lake; b) to the forest; c) to the rich man; d) to the hill

5. What helped the young man to stay in the lake all night?

a) wild animals; b) the servants; c) his mother's great love; d) his love to the girl

6. Who came before the judge?

a) the young man, his mother, servants and the rich man; b) the rich man and his daughter; c)       people who wanted to hear the case; d) the young man and the servants who watched him

8. What did the judge prove?

a) that there was no fire on the hill; b) that the water in the lake was warm;

c) that the young man loved the girl; d) that the fire couldn't warm the water in the lake

III Complete the sentences with the correct words

1. Many animals came at night to the lake to...
2. The young man said: “I’ll try to stay all night in the lake and then ...
3. His mother followed him but at first he ...
4. The wild animals saw the fire and ...
5. They lived happily for ...

IV In several sentences prove that mother really loved her son.

 

8 КЛАС  ___________________________________________________

SEMESTER I

WRITING

I Fill in the blanks with the correct letters.

1. diction_y                                   3. catalog_

a) er  b) ar c) ur  d) or                   a) ue b) ye c) eu d) ie

2. c_tents                                       4. enc_lopedia

a) en b) un c) on d) an                   a) ac b) yc c) yk d) ik

II Match the antonyms. One of the words is extra one.

1. optimistic               a) indecent

2. hard-working         b) silly

3. intelligent               c) persistent

4. decent                     d) ugly

5. just                         e) lazy

6. beautiful                 f)  unjust

                                   g) pessimistic

III Open the brackets and put the verb into the correct tense.

1. Our family (save) money for a new car by the end of the year.
2. If you (catch) the taxi, you (meet) Mary at the station.
3. Father told us that he (buy) the tickets the day before.
4. The girl (water) her flowers in the morning.
5. This time tomorrow they (sit) in the train on their way to Chicago.
6. Many reporters (come) to the conference yesterday.
7. Don’t shout! My son (sleep).
8. He already (break) his new bicycle.

IV Characterize a person.

1. Steve isn’t afraid of dangerous situations. He is ...
2. Ann can’t stop talking. She is ...
3. Bogdan hates spending money. He is ...
4. Kate is friendly and enjoys being with other people. She is ...
5. Harry never tells a lie. He is ...

8 КЛАС  ___________________________________________________

SEMESTER I

SPEAKING

I Find positive and negative traits of character

Confident, ambitious, cheerful, moody, impatient, lazy, reserved, well-mannered, pessimistic, bright, stubborn, just, envious, imaginative, honest.

II Answer the question

What qualities are very important for those who want:

to become successful in their life?	to become skillful at some job?
to get along with others easily?	to be respected by people?

III Complete the following conversation

A: How many people are there in your family?

B:

A: What is your mother by character?

B:

A: Is your father an optimistic person?

B:

A: Has your sister/brother a serious nature?

B:

A: What about your grandparents?

B:

IV Speak about one of the following topics

• My friend’s character
• Ukrainian nation – main characteristics
• Relations with your parents

8 КЛАС  ____________________________________________________________

SEMESTER II

LISTENING COMPREHENSION TEST

HOW THE PAINTER REMBRANDT WAS DISCOVERED

In a museum in Holland one can see a pair of wooden shoes with funny little figures of animals drawn on them.

Those drawings helped to discover the great painter Rembrandt.

When he was still a boy, Rembrandt worked to become a painter and travel in foreign countries.

One day at school, instead of listening to the teacher, he was drawing pigs and chickens on the wooden shoes of the pupil sitting next to him. Seeing this, the teacher got angry with him and said he would tell his mother.

In the afternoon Rembrandt was sitting on the top of a hill quite near his house, watching the traffic in the streets.

When he saw his teacher coming towards his father’s house, he was sure that his teacher had come to speak to his parents. His father called him and the young Rembrandt saw his teacher with one of the wooden shoes in his hand. All eyes were turned on him as he came near. To his great surprise, his mother spoke to him kindly, saying, "Do you really want to be a painter, my child?" The boy could not believe his ears, his heart was full of happiness.

His teacher told him that he liked his excellent drawings and wanted him to study painting with a famous artist in the town.

Later Rembrandt painted wonderful pictures, but he died a poor man.

8 КЛАС  ____________________________________________________________

LISTENING COMPREHENSION TEST

I Listen to the text and put “+” if the sentence is right and “-” if one is false

1.               In a museum in Holland one can see two pairs of shoes.
2.               The drawings helped to discover the great painter Rembrandt.
3.               When he was a boy, Rembrandt wanted to be a teacher.
4.               One day at school he was drawing pigs and chickens on his boots.
5.               The teacher was angry and punished him.
6.               In the afternoon Rembrandt was sitting on the top of a hill.

 

II Choose the correct answer

A. One can see a pair of wooden shoes.

B. One can see a pair of wooden boots.

C. One can see a wooden shoe.

D. One can see a pair of leather shoes.

A. Little figures of animals.

B. Little figures of children.

C. Little figures of birds.

D. Little figures of fish.

B. The drawings.      D. The birds.

A. He was listening to the teacher.

B. He was reading.

A. He was sitting in the park.

B. He was sitting on the roof of the house.

C. He was sitting in the tree.

D. He was sitting on the top of a hill.

A. He was watching people in the street.

B. He was watching the traffic in the street.

C. He was watching birds in the street.

D. He was reading.

 

III Fill in the gaps using the words from the box. One of the words is extra one

Afternoon, turned, ears, wooden,   behaviour, painter

1. In a museum in Holland one can see a pair of … shoes.
2. In the … Rembrandt was sitting on the top of a hill.
3. All eyes were … on him as he came near.
4. The boy could not believe his … .
5. He wanted to be a … .

 

8 КЛАС  ____________________________________________________________

SEMESTER II

READING COMPREHENSION TEST

BOOKS AND TV

Some people think that as more and more people have televisions in their homes; fewer and fewer people will buy books and newspapers. Why read an article in the newspaper, when the TV news can bring you the information in a few minutes and with pictures? Why read a novel, when a play on television can tell you same story with colour, picture and action?

Why read the biographies of famous men and women, when an hour-long television programs can tell you all that you want to know?

Television has not killed reading, however. Today, newspapers and magazines are sold in very large numbers. And books of every kind are sold more than ever before. Books are still a cheap way to get information and entertainment. Although some books with hard covers are expensive, many books are published today as paperback books, which are reasonably cheap. A paperback novel, for example, is almost always cheaper than an evening at the cinema or theatre, and you can keep a book forever and read it many times.

Books at home are a wonderful source of knowledge and pleasure and some types of books should be in every home. Every home should have a good dictionary. Every home should have an atlas of the world, with large clear maps. It might be expensive, but a good encyclopedia is useful, too, because you can find information on any subject. In addition, it is useful to have on your bookshelves other non-fiction books such as history books, science textbooks, cookery books, books about medicine and health, etc. It is equally important to have some fiction on your shelves, too. Then you can relax with a good story, or from time to time you can take a book of poems off your shelves and read the thoughts and feelings of your favourite poets.

8 КЛАС  ____________________________________________________________

READING COMPREHENSION TEST

I Match the words on the left with their definitions on the right

1. ...an article a) a book that is used to study a school subject

2. ...an atlas b) a publication that comes out weekly or monthly
3. ...a biography c) a book with maps of the world
4. ...a novel d) usually a cheap book with a soft cover
5. ...a textbook e) a story about a real person
6. ...a dictionary   f) a piece of writing in a newspaper
7. ...a poem   g) a book of word definitions
8. ...a paperback    h) usually a short piece of writing expressing a deep

feeling or thought

9. ...a magazine i) a story about people who are not real

 

II Choose the best answer according to the information in the passage

1. Which is easier to get the news from?

1.  a newspaper
2. the television

2. Which is usually quicker?

1.  to read a biography of a famous person
2. to watch a television programme about a famous person

3. Which is usually cheaper?

1.  a paperback
2. an evening at the cinema

4. Which is usually cheaper?

1.  a paperback
2. a hardcover book

5. Which is it most important to have in your home?

1.  non-fiction books, such as a dictionary and an encyclopedia
2.             fiction, such as novels, short stories and books of poems
3. a mixture of both good non-fiction and your favourite fiction.

III Which of the following are non-fiction and which are fiction? Put the words into the two columns

Atlas, novel, short story, textbook, play, dictionary, encyclopedia, poem.

IV Write a short review of the book you've read and liked very much. Be sure to mention the title of the book, say a few words about the author, describe the scene of the action, main characters and ideas.

 

8 КЛАС  ____________________________________________________________

SEMESTER II

WRITING

I Find and correct mistakes

1 to brethe, 2 to poor, 3 kemicals, 4 poisones, 5 to consern

 

II Match the words and word-combinations. One of the words is extra one

1 ecological              a) much benefit

2 to take                    b) substances

3 environmental        c) protection

4 harmful                  d) problems

5 to demand              e) speed

6 to get                      f) one’s time and money

7 to waste                  g) an apology

                                   h) a breath

III Choose the correct verbs

1. The results of these experiments ... to be very interesting.

a) suppose; b) supposed; c) are supposed; d) is supposed

2. A film about London ... in room 5 now.

a) is shown; b) being shown; c) has been shown; d) is being shown

3. She did not know that she ... by him.

a) was being watched; b) is being watched; c) was watching; d) had been watched

4. If I... free tomorrow I shall have a walk in the park.

a) will be; b) am; c) is being; d) would be

5. The two towns... by a railway next year.

a) connected; b) are connected; c) will be connected; d) will have been connected

6. The article ... that's why I asked him for help.

a) had not been translated; b) was not translated; c) has not been translated; d) was not being translated

7. The report ...by him yet.

a) is not prepared; b) was not prepared; c) has not been prepared; d) had not been prepared

 

IV Open the brackets. Put Gerund, Infinitive or Participle

1. After (get) (know) him better, I regretted (judge) him unfairly.

2. "A job worth (do) is worth (do) well."

3. I should prefer (go) to the cinema rather than (sit) here (listen) to the radio.

4. Don't stand there (do) nothing.

5. He tried (speak) German but found that he couldn't. His attempts at (speak) Spanish were equally unsuccessful.

6. I tried (cook) eggs and bacon together, and found that this was a much quicker way of (prepare) a meal.

7. Surely you recollect (he, say) that he would agree to (I, borrow) his car.

8. You know I hate (disappoint) you, but much as I would like (go) out this evening, I have to finish (decorate) this room.

9. Megan used (think) that a library was a place where books were (buy) and (sell); now she knows that a library is a place for (lend) and (borrow) books.

 

8 КЛАС  ____________________________________________________________

SEMESTER II

SPEAKING

I Choose the correct answer

1 There are many environmental problems. What are they?

a) land pollution, radioactivity, acid rains

b) hardships and difficulties in life

c) problems of international communication

2 How can we solve environmental problems?

a) people should talk to each other more

b) people should control amount of pollution

d) people should take care of each other

3 Why do environmental problems appear?

a) because there are too many people on the planet

b) because biological balance is being upset

c) because our life became faster

4 What must we do in order to protect the environment?

a) we must eat only fresh food

b) we must have more domestic animals

c) we must use ozone-friendly products

 

II Answer the questions

1 What environmental problems demand world action nowadays?

2 What is ecology?

3 What is the environment?

4 How can human activities make the environment unhealthy?

5 What pollutes and poisons the air?

 

III Complete the following conversation

A: What city do you live in?

B: …

A: Is your city clean or polluted?

B: …

A: How many plants are there in your city?

B: …

A: What do you do to keep your city clean?

B: …

 

IV Speak about one of the following topics

• Ukrainian Scientists
• Environmental Protection in Ukraine
• Your Attitude to Zoos