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Dar Allouche preparatory school 9th form
I.
Comprehensive test n° 1
Mrs. Hayfa Ben Brahim December, 2009
Reading (6 marks)
Text: I've always enjoyed being a househusband. I adore cooking and can clean a house better than anyone I know. So, giving up work wasn't a problem. I get a lot of satisfaction from my role and Maggie and I have never been happier. Running my own disco in London gave us a comfortable life but I was working a 90-hour week. When Maggie started her business, it meant we never saw each other. Her job is very stressful but she can earn more than me. We had no social life and the work pressure on both of us had started to affect our relationship. We used to have appointments to have lunch together in the restaurant twice a week in order to see each other. So one day I decided to stop working and give up my job. As soon as I stopped work, Maggie said that I became nicer to live with. I have the time to do what I enjoy. I've wanted to write books and poetry since I was a child so now I have the time to enjoy that, and I play golf three or four times a week. We also have time for social life. We often go to the theatre and concerts. Life has also become easier for Maggie as she doesn't have to worry about the house any more. At first I was embarrassed not to have a job and a pay cheque, but I came to terms with the fact that it doesn't matter who's the bread winner when you love your family.
Reading comprehension: 1) Read the text and tick the best title. (0.5 mark) An unhappy couple. An understanding husband. A happy housewife 2) Tick the correct answer. (0.5 mark) The husband chose to become a househusband while his wife still works because: he worked 90 hours a week. he wants to write books and poetry. his wife can earn more money than him. 3) Complete the following table from the text. (2 marks) The situation The results 1
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1) The speaker who has decided househusband has a lot of free time now. 2) When the speaker and his wife both worked they had a difficult life.
- He ………………………………… …………………………………….. - He ………………………………… ……………………………………… - They ……………………………… …………………………………….. - They ……………………………… ………………………………………
4) Are the following statements true or false? (1.5 marks) a) The husband is good at doing housework. …………………. b) He felt unhappy when he stayed at home. …………………. c) His wife, Maggie, is still tired now. …………………. 5) What do the underlined words refer to? (1 mark) Us (paragraph 1): ………………… That (paragraph 2): ………………… 6) Tick the correct function of the following sentence. (0.5 mark) I’ve always enjoyed being a househusband. Dislike Agreeing Like II.
Language. (8 marks)
1) Fill in the blanks with words from the box below. (2.5 marks) Quarrels – helpful – language – obeys - of Sarah is a well-disciplined girl. She 1)....................... and respects her parents and she is usually kind with her little brother Sam. Her mother is proud 2) ..................... her. At school all her friends like her because she is generous and 3) ........................... Her teachers too are quite happy about her because she isn't only a serious pupil but also a very polite one. Besides, she never quarrels with her friends, she never uses bad 4) ................. and she never shouts at them. However, she sometimes 5) ......................with her elder sister, Liz, who often borrows her clothes without her permission. 2) Circle the right alternative. (2.5 marks) In the USA, it is not compulsory for all children to get their education at school. Many parents think that they can 1) (gave – give – giving) their children a 2) (better – best – worst) education at home. They prefer 2
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3) (teach – teaching - teacher) themselves. These children are called home schoolers. There are about three hundred thousand home schoolers in the USA. Most of 4) (they - their -them) have good scores on national tests in reading and maths. I personally think that if a child doesn’t attend school, he 5) (will be – is – was) uncomfortable mixing with other people in adult life. 3) Match the sentence parts to get a coherent paragraph. (3 marks) A
B
I think I’m lucky to have nice
a)
and talk quietly.
2) When they disagree with me about anything,
b)
solve the problem together.
3) They just invite me to sit down
c)
by giving me helpful advice.
4) Most of the time we manage to
d)
and understanding parents.
5) In addition, they show me how to behave in society,
e) when I tease my sister Piggy. f)
She’s tired with the housework.
7) However, they are sometimes a bit strict with me especially
g)
they never get angry or shout at me.
1)
Answer: 1) + ... – 2) + ... – 3) + …. – 4) + ….. – 5) + …. – 6) + …. III.
Writing. (6 marks)
Imagine you are Robert Gibson, an advice columnist in The Morning Star. You have received the letter below from a mother, Sandra Noel. Read it and write her an answer to give her some advice. My teenage son and daughter keep asking for more freedom. They often complain that I am authoritarian and overprotective. But I believe that parents should always have control over their children. I am at a loss. Should I be more flexible or continue to be strict with them? Please help! Sandra Noel December ……………. Dear Sandra Noel, 3
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