РМЦ РМЦ учителей английского языка Коммунаровского района г. Запорожье

понедельник, 30 ноября 2015 г.

10 клас говоріння

Speaking Comprehension Test for 10^th Form Students

1. Academic cheating is a major issue in all levels of education. What is your opinion of cheating? Why?

* How do you think it is possible to solve or, at least, minimize the problem?

* When cheating occurs, it is difficult to give fair grades. How can teachers evaluate their students’ abilities accurately in an environment rife with cheating?

* If cheating is condoned or, at least, quietly tolerated, what is the long term effect on society?

2. Imagine that tomorrow is the last day before the end of the world. What would you see or do on this last day? Why?

* Do you think it would be better to try and correct your past mistakes, or just to enjoy your last day instead? Why?

* How do you think people would react to the news of the impending apocalypse?

* Some people argue that laws are only obeyed due to the fear of punishment. If there were no tomorrow and, therefore, no consequences, do you think laws would still be obeyed? Why or why not?

3. Studies show that too much choice, having too many options, can prevent people from making a decision. If they do decide, they may be less happy with the result, because they second-guess themselves. Have you ever felt you had too many choices?

* Describe a choice that you have made which you wish you could take back and change. If you were able to take back this choice, what would you do differently?

* Does knowing that you can change a decision later on make it easier? Why or why not?

* Think about important life decisions, like choosing a career. Today, students have many choices of fields of study. What can help you make such a big decision?

4. William Shakespeare wrote plays in England about 400 years ago, but his writing is still read all around the world today. Which contemporary writer do you think will still be famous 400 years from now? Why?

* What form do you think literature will take in future?

* Do you think people will still read Shakespeare’s plays 400 years from now? Why or why not?

* What do you think makes a writer’s work timeless?

5. Standardized tests, such as the IQ test, have been used to measure individual’s intelligence. Do you think such tests can ever accurately measure all of the aspects of an individual’s intelligence? Why or why not?

* If you had a chance to take a test that would assign you a numerical representation of your intellect, would you take it? Why or why not?

* In your opinion, what qualities constitute intelligence?

* Do you think that intelligence is the most important quality in an individual? Why or why not?

* Which other qualities may or may not be equal to or more important than intelligence?

6. Some people believe it is important to share wisdom with future generations so that they avoid making the same mistakes. Imagine that you are speaking to your future granddaughter or grandson about lessons you have learned so far in your life. * What life lessons would you like to share? * What traditions do you hope he or she will carry on in the future? * What wisdom would you pass to him or her from your grandparents?

7. The Internet and television have made the world a much smaller place, as virtually everyone is aware of pop culture icons like David Beckham and Lady Gaga. * Is it important to keep up with pop culture? Why or why not? * If you stopped paying attention to pop culture, would you be able to participate in the same kinds of conversations with your friends? * Does pop culture create similar interests in people throughout the world, regardless of culture?

8. Many people are distrustful of modern medicine. They believe that natural medicines from herbs and plants work much better. * If you were sick, would you go to a regular doctor or a doctor who uses herbs and plants as medicine?

* Some argue that laughter makes a person feel better than any medicine can. Do you agree? * Have your parents ever treated you with medical remedies? Were they effective?

9. There is a popular quote by George Orwell that says “at 50, everyone has the face he deserves”. What do you think this quote means?

* Do you agree with this quote? Why or why not?

* What kind of face do you hope to have at 50? Why?

* People generally associate facial characteristics with personality characteristics. Do you think it is fair and accurate to draw conclusions about a person’s character based on their face? Why or why not?

10 .Both men and women spend a lot of time and money on fashion in an attempt to keep up with the latest trends. * Does beauty affect one’s success in life? * Do you think the standard of beauty is the same in Ukraine as in America? * Is there more pressure on women than on men to be beautiful?

11. Leo Tolstoy wrote. “Art is a human activity which has as its purpose the transmission to others the highest and best feelings to which men have risen.” * How can art reflect our personal ideals? * Tell about a painting, play, book or song that reflects your beliefs. * Do you think we can learn from different forms of art?

12. There are many different ways to be a leader. * How have you been a leader at school, among your friends or in other ways? * What are some necessary characteristics of a good leader? Can anyone be a leader? * Why is being or having a leader important?

13. You will soon graduate from school and become an adult. What are your thoughts about childhood?

* What do you think are the best parts of being a child? * What do you think the main differences are between childhood and adulthood? * What about your own children? Do you want their childhood to be different from or similar to your own? How do you see the lives of children in the future?

14. Imagine that you are a newspaper reporter and have the opportunity to interview any living person in the world. * Who would you choose to interview, and why? * How has this person influenced your life and the lives of others? * What is the goal of your article, and how will you make it newsworthy?

15. Imagine you have become stranded on a desert island. * Without a computer, phone or television, how would you spend your time? * What do you know about survival skills, like planting food, building houses, or making clothes?

* If you could choose two people to be stranded with you, who would they be and why?

16 .Imagine, you have a magic mirror that allows you to see anything in the world. * What would you choose to see? * What would you do with this information? * What could be dangerous about someone having access to such a powerful tool?

17.Social networking sites like vKontakte and Facebook are seemingly all over the place. Do you see this as a good thing or bad thing? Why? * If all social networking sites were shut down forever, how would your life be affected? * Apart from socializing with friends, what other uses do social networking sites have? * How can social networking sites be used as an agent of social change in Ukraine?

18. You are going on a trip to another country for two weeks. How would you plan your trip?

* Where would you go? With whom would you go? Why? * Would you travel more for adventure, to learn, or to see historical sites? * What kind of preparations would you make? Describe one day in your itinerary?

19. Do you think the “traditional” roles of men and women are changing in Ukraine?

* How have men’s roles changed? What new roles do they have? * How about women? What’s changed with them? * Do you think these roles should change to meet the needs of present times? Why?

20. Home phones, mobile phones, Internet chatting and e-mail have revolutionized the world and changed a lot about how people communicate. Describe what form of modern communication you use.

* In what ways have these modern forms of communication helped us? * What negative impacts has the loss of face-to-face communication had on everyone? * What will the communication of the future be like?

10 клас письмо

Writing Comprehension Test for 10^th Form Students

Weird Science or a Wave of the Future?

Three years after scientists in a Texas laboratory successfully cloned the first house cat, a company in California is now selling the same technology to pet owners who want a carbon copy of their cat or dog.

For &50,000 Genetic Savings & Clone can take a cat’s DNA and create an exact genetic duplicate. They hope to do the same with a dog next year. So far they have five clients who soon will be among the first owners of the newest type of kitten: a clone.

GSC, the first company to offer pet cloning commercially, has already successfully cloned three cats of its own. Kittens named Tabouli and Baba Ganoush made their debut last month at a Manhattan cat show. Its third clone, Peaches, appeared recently at the Cat Fanciers’ Association Cat Show in Houston.

While delighting some of the feline fanciers, the introduction of cloned pets has raised the hacles of some animal welfare groups. Many wonder: Is it just weird science for the rich or a glimpse into the future of America’s pet industry?

But what it means for the moment is that a few pet owners will be able to transfer the genetic characteristics of their pet into a new cat or dog. They aren’t guaranteed an exact copy but something almost indistinguishable from the original pet with the same traits as their sell donors. That promise has led many people to have tissue samples of their pets sent to GSC to be frozen in its liquid nitrogen “gene banks”.

“People are attracted to their particular animal and this is a way for their pet to keep on living after its death; it’s a false promise,” says Wayne Pacelle, president of the Humane Society of the United States.

“We do not need a new production scheme when there are plenty of healthy and adoptable pets,” he says. –“We’ve gotten along fine for thousands of years without tinkering with creating life”.

You are to write an essay about science progress. The following questions can help to guide your thought.

Science, technology and medicine are progressing very quickly. Everything from new medicines, solar powered cars and video games to cloning techniques has been invented. Some people argue that the steady progression in technology is unnatural, leads to laziness and negative influences.

- In which ways does the steady progression of technology influence our world?

- What do you feel are the negative and positive effects of technology?

- Do you think that we should control this progression? If so, how and why? If not, why and what will you say to those who argue the other side?

10 клас аудіювання

Listening Comprehension Test for 10^th Form Students

This story is about love and loss. I was lucky – I found what I loved to do early in life. We started Apple in my parents’ garage when I was 20. We worked hard, and in 10 years Apple had grown from just the two of us in a garage into a $2 billion company with over 4000 employees. We had just released our finest creation – the Macintosh – a year earlier, and I had just turned 30. And then I got fired. How can you get fired from a company you started? Well, as Apple grew we hired someone who I thought was very talented to run the company with me, and for the first year or so things went well. But then our visions of the future began to diverge and eventually we had a falling out. When we did, our Board of Directors sided with him. So at 30 I was out. And very publicly out. What had been the focus of my entire adult life was gone, and it was devastating.

I really did not know what to do for a few months. I felt that I had let the previous generation of entrepreneurs down – that I had dropped the baton as it was being passed to me. I met with David Packard and Bob Noyce and tried to apologize for screwing up so badly. I was a very public failure, and I even thought about running away. But something slowly began to down on me – I still loved what I did. The turn of events at Apple had got changed that bit. I had been rejected but I was still in love. And so I decided to start over.

I did not see it then, but it turned out that getting fired from Apple was the best thing that could have ever happened to me. The heaviness of being successful was replaced by the lightness of being a beginner again, less sure about everything. It freed me to enter one of the most creative periods of my life.

During the next five years, I started a company named NeXT, another company named Pixar, and fell in love with an amazing woman who would become my wife. Pixar went to create the world’s first computer animated feature film, Toy Story, and is now the most successful animation studio in the world. In a remarkable turn of events, Apple bought NeXT, I returned to Apple, and the technology we developed at NeXT is at the heart of Apple’s current reinaissance. And Laurene and I have a wonderful family together.

I am pretty sure none of this would have happened if I hadn’t been fired from Apple. It was awful tasting medicine, but I guess the patient needed it. Sometimes life hits you in the head with a brick. Don’t lose faith. I’m convinced that the only thing that kept me going was that I loved what I did. You’ve got to find what you love. And that is true for your work as it is for your lovers. Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it. And like any great relationship, it just gets better and better as the years roll on. So keep looking until you find it. Don’t settle.

Listening Comprehension Test for 10^th Form Students Assignments

Task 1. Put “+” if the statement is true, put “–“ if it is false.

1. The narrator is probably connected with growing or selling apples.

2. The business seemed to be quite profitable.

3. The person telling the story had to retire at an early age.

4. There always was a complete unity of opinion in the company.

5. One of the events in the company became widely known all over.

6. The narrator eventually lost the sense of life.

7. It is easier to start something new than to run something existing.

8. The firing brought the narrator more good than evil.

9. The narrator was one of the fathers of a new technology.

10. As a whole, the story is rather discouraging.

Task 2. Circle the correct letter A, B, C or D

11. The narrator started his own business:

A. alone B. with a friend C. with 20 workers D. with 4000 workers

12. As his best creation the narrator views:

A. a sort of fruit B. a sort of garage C. A sort of computer D. a sort of raincoat

13. The conflict between the narrator and the management was growing for about:

A. 10 months B. 12 months C. 10 years D. 30 years

14. The narrator must have felt somehow:

A. guilty B. proud C. surprised D. encouraged

15. The narrator’s resignation must have received:

A. a big press B. a great failure C. a great support D. little attention

16. The narrator was considering:

A. starting another business B. returning to the old company

C. inventing a new technology D. moving somewhere else to live

17. The narrator regarded getting fore from the business as:

A. the saddest event B. the complete crash of dreams

C. his own fault D. a lucky chance

18. It can be inferred from the story that:

A. a failure is always good B. life is always unfair

C. owing a big business is very hard D. it is good to let the people down

19. What does the narrator feel about his personal life?

A. He was happy. B. He was indifferent. C. He was upset. D. He was furious.

20. The story can let one believe that the narrator is:

A. trying to accept being guilty. B. not interested in his future

C. currently working in his original company D. looking for a new job.

9 клас говоріння

Speaking Comprehension Test for 9^th Form Students

1. Fashion is a multi -billion dollar industry worldwide. Why do you think fashion is considered to be so important by so many people?

* How important is it to you to be fashionable?

* How does aesthetic style vary between communities and countries?

* Some people believe that fashion industry promotes unrealistic and unhealthy expectations regarding body image. Do you agree or disagree? Why? How do you think the fashion industry influences society in general?

2. Walt Disney once said, “All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them”. What do you think he meant when he said this? Do you agree with this statement? Why or why not?

* What advice would you give to someone who is trying to pursue his dream?

* Do you think that determination or ability is a more important characteristic when pursuing your dreams? Why?

* Some people argue that the circumstances of your birth (such as race, class, place of birth) are more important than any subjective character traits like ability or determination. Do you agree with this position? Why or why not?

3. Ralf Waldo Emerson once said, “The creation of 1,000 forests is in one acorn.” What does this quote mean to you? Do you agree or disagree with this quote? Why?

* How do you define success?

* Do you think everyone has the same potential to succeed? Why or why not?

* What do you believe is necessary for success? Why?

4. According to a famous English proverb “Two wrongs do not make a right”. What do you think this proverb means?

* Do you agree with the proverb? Why or why not?

* Describe a situation in which you had to forgive someone for a wrong against you or a situation in which you sought forgiveness for something which you did wrong.

* Which do you think is the more natural reaction to being wronged: forgiveness or revenge?

5. Television and Internet Video can have both a positive and negative influence on someone's life.

* In which ways has TV and Internet affected your life? * Do you think there should be a limit to how much TV and Internet a person can watch? * Do you think television has a negative influence in your community? Explain.

6. As the saying goes, “The apple does not fall far from the tree.” It is widely believed that parents greatly influence the personalities of their children. Do you think this is always necessarily true? Why or why not?

*Which personality traits do you share with your mother and father?

* What makes you different from them?

* Who has made the largest impact on the development of your personality? Why?

7. What is the best gift you were ever given?

* Who gave you the gift and what made it so special? * What thoughtful gifts have you give to someone? Explain. * Besides giving gifts, what other ways do we show our appreciation for people?

Speaking Comprehension Test for 9^th Form Students

8. Fast food is generally considered unhealthy, but many people still eat it. * Why do you think restaurants like McDonald’s are so popular? * How would you make McDonald’s better? * If you could add one thing to the menu, what would you add?

9. Many children grow up listening to or watching fairytales that contain moral lessons. What was your favorite childhood book or story? * What was the moral of the story, and is it still relevant today? * Why do you think stories are a good way to teach morals? * If you could write a new fairytale, what moral value would you want your readers to take away from it?

10. Some people believe that living a healthy lifestyle is the key to one’s happiness. * What is your idea of a healthy lifestyle? * How has the definition of health changed over time, and from culture to culture? * Can a person who is not healthy still be happy?

11. In the age of computers and instant information, we are constantly exposed to the latest news and information. * What influences your choices when selecting what content to view? * How should people sort and filter the information they lake in? * What are the positives and negatives of such constant exposure?

12. If you could have any talent that you don’t already possess what would it be?

* Why is this talent so important for you to have? * How would you use it? * Do you feel it is more important to gain talents through hard work or through natural ability?

13. The proverb,” The more languages you speak, the more of a person you are,” is often heard in our language classrooms. What does this saying mean to you? * Do you agree with this proverb? * Do you know any examples of people who embody this statement? * How does knowing more than one language enrich your life?

14. In your opinion, what are the tree most important qualities a great teacher should have?

* Tell about a time when you were in a challenging class and you witnessed a teacher demonstrate these qualities. * How do these qualities help students learn? * Would you rather have a teacher with high expectations who teachers interesting, difficult classes or a teacher whose classes are easy and boring?

15. Imagine that you are a newspaper reporter. You have the opportunity to interview any living person in the world. * Who would you choose to interview and why? * How has this person influenced the lives of others? * How has this person influenced your life?

16. If you could be a character in any book you have read, whom would you choose? Why?

* Describe the character you have chosen, including both their physical appearance and their personality traits. * Does this character have any weaknesses? * What traits does this character have that you do not? Similarly, is there anything you like about yourself that this character does not possess?

17. Social networking sites (like Facebook) are becoming more and more popular. * Do you see social networking as a positive or negative thing? Why? * If all social networking sites were shut down forever, how would your life be affected? * In what way do social networks affect communication between people?

18. Do you think that money can buy happiness? * When did money make your life easier? * When did money make your life more difficult? * There are some who say that it is impossible to be both rich and moral. Do you agree or disagree?

19. Imagine that you are the owner of a new museum. * From which time period would you gather most of your materials? * Who would be the most interested in visiting your museum? * What type of museum would you like to own?

20. Young people play computer games now more than ever. Some people say that computer games can be bad for a child’s development. * Do you agree with this opinion? * What are the advantages and disadvantages of playing computer games? * Do you think parents should limit the amount of time children play on the computer?

9 клас письмо

Writing Comprehension Test for 9^th Form Students

Is Your Obsession with Celebrities Unhealthy?

Jennifer Lawrence is not your best friend. Anne Hathaway is not your enemy. I know, the truth hurts.

Whether we love them or hate them, we tend to magnify celebrities’ places in our lives. The fact is, feeling closer to the stars is not unhealthy, at least for a majority of us. Through the media, reality shows and social networking, it’s easier than ever to keep up with celebs in real time. What kind of access creates what is known as “the illusion of intimacy”, says Cooper Lawrence the author of “The Cult of Celebrity”.

The direct access that many celebs provide makes us privy to many details of their lives. And as Lawrence points out, many stars aren’t exactly shy about sharing what outfits they are wearing, what food they are eating or what they are doing. We no longer have to rely solely on information from a star’s publicists, but are given a virtual front-row seat to their fears, heartbreaks, successes and failures.

Most of the time, this behavior is harmless. As Lawrence points out, the more common problem is with what she refers to as “celebrity worshippers”. Intense levels of adoration for a celebrity can be linked to depression and anxiety, she says.

You are to write an essay about the celebrities’ influence on young people. The following questions can help guide your thought.

- Famous people are often idolized by young people. How do you feel about this?

- Do you think they are good examples to follow? Why or why not?

- Do you think that famous people have a responsibility to be good role models?

- Do you have an idol? What qualities make a good idol?