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Pass the English exam test. Trial exam: English

Increasingly, parents of schoolchildren are turning to our school with a request to prepare future graduates for the USE in English 2018. Therefore, we decided to write a detailed article in which we will tell you how to prepare for this exam: we will consider its structure and give practical tips for successfully passing each part of the USE , as well as the best tutorials and online resources to prepare for this tough challenge.

What is the USE in English 2018

The USE in English 2018 is a final exam at school, which counts as an entrance exam to a university, which is why it is so important to pass it with a high score. So far, this exam is not mandatory, but if a graduate is going to enter a specialized university, he needs to pass this test.

In terms of structure and level of complexity, the USE is similar to the international FCE exam. This means that in order to successfully pass the student must have a level (above average). This is a high level, so we recommend starting to prepare for the exam in English from the 10th grade, then in 2 years the student will be able to master all the necessary amount of material at a normal pace.

In principle, it is possible to prepare for the exam in 1 year, but only if at the time the preparation begins, the student already speaks English at the level (intermediate). Don't know what level a graduate has? Then invite him to pass.

How is the exam in English in 2018? The exam consists of written and oral parts, which are held on different days. On the same day, students take the written part, it includes the following sections: listening, reading, writing, grammar and vocabulary. In total, on this day, the graduate needs to complete 40 tasks in 180 minutes. The student can receive a maximum of 20 points for each of the sections. Thus, for this day you can score 80 points.

The second part - oral - takes place on another day and available on request. It lasts only 15 minutes and consists of 4 tasks. On this day, the graduate can earn another 20 points. We strongly advise all graduates to take the oral part: in case of unsuccessful answers, you do not lose anything, and in case of successful - earn extra points.

Thus, a graduate in the exam can score a maximum of 100 points. The minimum score to pass the exam is 22 points.

Below we present a table for translating USE scores in English into a five-point system.

The results of the exam are usually published 14 days after the second part of the exam, but in some cases they are already known after 12 days. You can find out your results on the official website of the exam by filling in all the required fields. Paper USE certificates were canceled in 2014, so only electronic certificates are now available.

The structure of the exam in English 2018 and the principles for the successful delivery of each part

In this chapter, we will tell you in detail about what tasks the graduate will have to complete in each part of the exam. In addition, we will give advice from our teachers who prepare students for the exam. By the way, if you are looking for a teacher who will prepare your child for the exam, pay attention to. They have been doing this for more than a year and have developed their own strategy for successful preparation, they know what pitfalls await in the exam, what typical mistakes students make and how to get rid of these mistakes.

As an example, we will present you with a demo version of the exam in English, provided by the official website of the Federal Institute of Pedagogical Measurements fipi.ru.

listening

The audition lasts 30 minutes and consists of three parts. The first two parts are the first and second tasks, respectively, and the third part is tasks No. 3-9 (out of a total list of 40 tasks).

Listening to the exam in English in 2018 includes 3 audio fragments combined into one recording. The examiners turn on the recording and do not stop it until the very end, however, there are pauses between the fragments to read the tasks and transfer the answers to the form. For each correct answer in this and other parts of the exam, the student receives 1 point. Let's see what the graduate has to do in the audition.

Exercise 1: 7 statements are given. The student listens to 6 statements and correlates them with statements, one of which is superfluous.

6 points.

Example:

Listening task 1

Task 2: 7 statements are given. The student listens to the dialogue and determines which statements correspond to the content of the dialogue (True), which do not correspond (False), and which are not mentioned in it (Not Stated).

Maximum points: 7 points.

Example:

Listening task 2

Task 3: There are 7 questions, each of which has 3 possible answers. The student listens to the audio recording and selects the correct answer for each question.

Maximum points: 7 points.

Example:

Listening task 3

Our advice:

When preparing for an exam, you must as many listening assignments as possible in the exam format. So the graduate will get used to quickly read assignments and catch key words in speech that will help to find the right answer.
When choosing an answer, one should rely not on the words mentioned in the speaker's speech, but on the meaning of his words. So, for example, in his speech, he can somehow mention all the answers to the task, but if you delve into what has been said, you can understand that there is only one correct answer.

Reading

Reading lasts 30 minutes and consists of 3 parts (9 tasks). For each part, we advise you to spend no more than 10 minutes to meet the allotted half an hour.

Exercise 1: Given 7 short texts(3-6 sentences each) and 8 headings. You need to read the texts and choose the appropriate heading for each of them. In this case, 1 heading will be superfluous.

Maximum points: 7 points.

Example:

Reading task 1

Task 2: Given a text that has 6 gaps. Below are 7 passages, 6 of which must be inserted in place of the gaps.

Maximum points: 6 points.

Example:

Reading task 2

Task 3: A short text and 7 questions to it are given. Each question has 4 possible answers, from which you need to choose 1 correct one.

Maximum points: 7 points.

Example:

Reading task 3

Our advice:

When completing the first task, you need to look for keywords that will indicate the meaning of the text and help you find the right heading. In addition, often the main point of a paragraph is reflected in the first sentence, and some small details are given in the rest. Therefore, in some cases, you just need to carefully read the first sentence in order to correctly complete the task.
To successfully complete the second task, you need to have a good understanding of how complex sentences are built in English. The fact is that the missing part in most cases is part of a complex or complex sentence. For example, if a student understands that in the subordinate clause who is used for people, which for objects, and where for places, he will be able to successfully complete most of the tasks. It also needs to be repeated, for example, that the infinitive is used to express purpose.
In the third task, the questions are arranged in the order in which they are answered in the text. That is, the answer to the first question will be at the beginning of the text, and not in the middle or end, the answer to the second question will be after the answer to the first, etc.

Grammar and vocabulary

This section of the USE in English 2018 tests the knowledge of grammatical structures and vocabulary of the graduate. The student is given 40 minutes to complete it. Let's see what the student has to do.

Exercise 1: Given a text with 7 words missing. To the right of the text are the words that need to be converted grammatically (for example, put the verb in right time) and insert in place of the gap.

Maximum points: 7 points.

Example:

Grammar and vocabulary, task 1

Task 2: Given a text with 6 gaps. On the right are the words that need to be transformed both lexically and grammatically - to form a single-root word that matches the meaning of the text.

Maximum points: 6 points.

Example:

Grammar and vocabulary, task 2

Task 3: Given a text with 7 gaps. You need to choose for each of them 1 correct answer out of the four proposed.

Maximum points: 7 points.

Example:

Grammar and vocabulary, task 3

Our advice:

The transformation of the word in the first part, as a rule, occurs according to the following principle. If you are given a verb, you must either use it in the correct tense, or put it in the correct voice form (active or passive), or form a participle from it. If an adjective is given, it is necessary to put it in a comparative or superlative degree. If you need to change a numeral, most likely, you need to make it ordinal.
In the second part, knowledge of suffixes and prefixes, including negative ones, is mainly checked, the ability to form different parts of speech from a single-root word.
In the third part, knowledge of word compatibility, the so-called collocations, is most often checked. In addition, out of 4 words, you will need to choose the most appropriate in meaning, that is, you need to know the difference between similar words, read the context.

Letter

The graduate is given 80 minutes to write and check 2 written papers.

Exercise 1: The text of a short letter from a friend asking questions is given. The student needs to read it and write a response letter: answer the friend's questions and ask questions to him.

Volume: 100-140 words.

Maximum points: 6 points.

Example:

Letter, task 1

A letter to a friend is written in an informal style. The structure of this work is as follows:

Making a "hat"
In the upper right corner we write the address: on the top line we indicate the city, below it - the country of residence. No need to write the street and house number: this may be regarded as disclosure of confidential information, even if the address is fictitious.
After the address, skip 1 line and write the date of writing the letter in the same upper right corner.
Further, as usual, on the left we write an informal appeal: Dear Tom / Jim (name will be given in the task). Hello is not allowed here. After the appeal, put a comma and continue to write the text of the letter from a new line.
Text of the letter
We start writing each paragraph with a red line.
In the first paragraph, you need to thank your friend for the letter you received (Thanks a lot for your last letter) and apologize that you did not write earlier (Sorry I haven’t been in touch for so long). You can also mention some fact from the received letter.
In the fourth paragraph, you need to sum up - say that you are finishing the letter (I've got to go now! It's time for my favorite TV show), and offer to keep in touch (Take care and keep in touch!).
End of letter
At the end, you need to write a final cliche phrase, after which a comma is always placed: All the best, Best wishes, etc.
On the next line, below this phrase, you enter your name.

Task 2: A statement (usually controversial) is given. The graduate writes an essay in which he discusses this topic, expresses his point of view, and also gives the opposite opinion and explains why he does not agree with it.

Volume: 200-250 words.

Maximum points: 14 points.

Example:

Letter, task 2

The essay is written in a neutral style and consists of 5 paragraphs:

Introduction: we formulate the topic-problem and immediately indicate that there are two opposing points of view.
Your opinion: we express our point of view (one) on this issue and give 2-3 arguments that confirm it.
Contrasting opinions: we write 1-2 opposite points of view and give arguments in favor of their existence.
We express disagreement: we explain why we do not agree with the above points of view, and we give arguments in defense of our own opinion. However, they should not repeat the arguments from paragraph 2.
Conclusion: we draw a conclusion on this topic, indicate that there are different points of view, and finally confirm our point of view.

Our advice:

Stick to the required volume. It is permissible to deviate by 10% from the specified number of words, that is, you can write from 90 to 154 words in a letter and from 180 to 275 in an essay. If the graduate writes at least 1 word less (89), he will be given 0 points for the assignment. If the limit is exceeded, the examiner will count 140 words in a letter or 250 in an essay and will evaluate it, moreover, they will deduct points for work in progress, assignment design, topic disclosure, etc.
Avoid paragraphs consisting of one sentence, you need to supplement and argue your every thought. To do this, you can use the constructions In my opinion, I believe, etc.
Follow the style of written work: colloquial expressions like Guess what? or Wish me luck!, and in an essay it is better to stick to a more formal style. It is important not to overdo it with "informality": all sorts of well, cause and slang expressions are unacceptable.
Use linking words, they make the text logical, allow you to complement or contrast sentences.

Oral speech

The oral part of the exam is the shortest, taking only 15 minutes. The graduate needs to have time to complete as many as 4 tasks, for which you can get a maximum of 20 points. The student submits assignments in front of the computer, his answers are recorded using a headset, and the countdown is shown on the screen. At the same time, there is an organizer in the audience who monitors the course of the exam.

Exercise 1: The text of a popular science character is displayed on the screen. In 1.5 minutes you need to prepare and in the next 1.5 minutes expressively read it aloud.

Lead time: no more than 3 minutes.

Maximum points: 1 point

Example:

Oral speech, task 1

Lead time: about 3 minutes.

Maximum points: 5 points.

Example:

Oral speech, task 2

Task 3: Show 3 pictures. You need to choose 1 and describe it according to the plan proposed right there in the task.

Lead time: about 3.5 minutes.

Maximum points: 7 points.

Example:

Oral speech, task 3

Task 4: Given 2 pictures. It is necessary to compare them, describe similarities and differences, explain why the chosen topic is close to the graduate.

Lead time: about 3.5 minutes.

Maximum points: 7 points.

Example:

Oral speech, task 4

Our advice:

Take advantage online simulator of the oral part of the exam on the website injaz.ege.edu.ru. It completely simulates the exam, so you get familiar with the format and understand what exactly you need to do, what time to meet, etc.
To complete the first part of the exam, you need take texts on different subjects and learn to read them with the correct expression: there should be pauses in speech, logical stresses, natural intonation. In addition, the graduate must fit in one and a half minutes, because the score is reduced if the text is not read to the end. However, it is also impossible to rush, because it is not the speed of reading that is checked, but the ability to expressively read the text.
To successfully complete the second task, you need learn to ask questions to different texts. In principle, the task itself is elementary, most of the errors are due to the loss of the auxiliary verb or its incorrect agreement with the noun. This problem is easily solved by doing multiple question-writing exercises.
In the third task, the examinee needs to choose 1 photo from 3 offered and describe it. Here's our top tip - read the task carefully. The fact is that it changes a little every year, so learn to respond accordingly to the wording of 2018. In 2018, graduates will have to describe a photo to a friend, that is, the monologue should contain an appeal to him. In addition, it is necessary answer all the questions in the assignment, for example, if it says where and when the photo was taken, you need to answer both questions - where and when. At the beginning, it is necessary to indicate which photo will be discussed (I’ve chosen photo number...). Don't forget about the opening (Would you like to have a look at my picture? / I'd like to show you a picture from my photo album.) and closing (That's all for now. / I hope you liked my picture.) phrases that make speech logical.
In the fourth task, you need to do the main emphasis in speech on comparing pictures and not their description. At the same time, it is necessary use speech clichés: The first picture depicts... whereas/while the second picture depicts..., The main difference is that..., In comparison to the first picture, this one... etc. You will learn more of these speech clichés with the help of our article "Phrases for comparison and contrast".

Textbooks and sites for preparing for the exam in English 2018

Now you are familiar with the structure of the exam and understand that graduates will face a difficult test. However, the exam in English in 2018 can be passed easily and successfully if you prepare well for it in advance. And in this the student will be helped first of all by a good teacher, as well as resources for preparing for this exam. We want to introduce you to some of the textbooks and websites that our teachers use when preparing their students for the exam. Take note of at least a few of them.

A series of textbooks Macmillan Exam Skills for Russia includes books on preparation for each part of the exam. With authentic texts and assignments, this series is one of the best for exam preparation. These books are quite difficult, so we recommend studying them for students with a level not lower than Intermediate.
"Typical exam options for the USE edited by Verbitskaya" - exist in various variations, include standard USE tasks with answers. With the help of the book, you can check how well the graduate is ready for the exam.
fipi.ru - the official website of the Federal Institute of Pedagogical Measurements, which presents a large bank of standard tasks for the exam. On the indicated page, click on the inscription "English" and in the tab that opens on the left, select the skill you want to train. Please note: there are no answers to assignments on the site, therefore, so that the efforts of the graduate are not in vain, we advise you to study with the teacher and send the completed assignments to him for verification.

interesting way

Our teacher Natalya has already prepared more than a dozen excellent students for the exam in English, in her article “Exam, be good to me, or How to successfully pass the exam in English”, she shares personal experience and tips for alumni.

So, now you imagine the amount of work and know the secrets of a successful passing the exam in English language. We wish all graduates easy exams and high scores! And if you have not found a suitable teacher yet, sign up with us at.

Starting from 2003, the unified state exam was conducted as an experiment, and since 2009 it has become a unified form of state certification of applicants. Now, in order to enter a university, more and more often you need to pass USE in English.

As for preparing for the exam in English, you should know that you need to prepare for it in advance, and the sooner the better. And even if you have a good level of English, you still need good preparation, and this takes time, at least a year.

To pass the unified state exam well, you need:

familiarize yourself with the format of the exam;
have a good level of English proficiency;
master reading and listening strategies. An excellent understanding of the main content is implied.
Familiarize yourself with the assessment criteria for assignments.

If you want to prepare well for the exam, you need to study with a professional teacher. He must know the format of this exam. Also choose a teacher who has already worked with children in this direction. Do not think that you have enough lessons at school to successfully pass the exam. Remember that the most important thing is quality, not quantity, so you need to prepare directly for the exam, and don't learn everything.

USE 2010. Structure of the exam.

The unified state exam includes 4 sections, which consist of 46 tasks.

1 section - listening. This section consists of 15 tasks. 1 task - to establish correspondence and 14 tasks in which you need to choose the correct answers. Time is given 30 minutes.
Section 2 - reading. It consists of 9 tasks, with 2 for establishing correspondence, and 7 tasks for choosing the correct answer. Time to complete - 30 minutes.
3 section - vocabulary and grammar. Includes 20 tasks. 13 - with a short answer, 7 tasks - to choose the correct answer. Time - 40 minutes.
Section 4 - written part. Includes two tasks. The first is to write an essay with reasoning and the second is to write a friendly letter. You have 60 minutes to complete.

Total for the exam is given 160 minutes.

USE results for the past years

The most difficult section to complete is "Vocabulary and Grammar". In general, the work has the lowest percentage of completion in lexical tasks. It is A22-A28. Practice has shown that it is difficult for graduates to apply modified forms of the verb and the coordination of tenses.

And in 2009, they removed from the exam "Burning". Probably, this situation has developed as a result of the fact that many who passed the exam refused this section immediately after they began to answer it.

And now some tips on all sections of the exam.

listening

listen carefully! After all, such a trick is often used when they first say one answer, and then correct it in another way;
you need to read the task carefully;
review the endings in what you wrote and try to find possible small errors;
if you didn’t hear something, don’t panic, you will have the opportunity to listen again;
if you do not know what to answer to any question, answer at least something, but the main thing is to answer;
if they speak too fast, do not get upset, try to relax and then it will be easier for you to perceive the information.

Reading

if you are not familiar with the topic mentioned in the text, do not worry, because in order to find answers in the text, you do not need special knowledge;
if you are given tasks in which you need to insert words or phrases instead of gaps, read the sentence before and after the gaps, try to guess what exactly is missing;
do not get hung up on any one issue, you can always return to it, but for now take care of others;
you always need to read the entire text to understand what the meaning is;
if you don't know the answer to a question, try to guess it;
preparing for the exam, read as many texts of different styles as possible.

Written task

it is worth writing about the same thing only in different words;
do not deviate from the topic;
do not use the same vocabulary as in the assignment. Choose synonyms for words;
keep track of time;
do not write more than necessary, because this may indicate that you have written too much;
remember that you need to take the time to re-read what you have written and, if necessary, correct the errors found.

Vocabulary and grammar

if you need to insert a word, try to determine in what number and in what form it should be;
if you do not know the correct answer, do not leave gaps anyway, look for the answer by the opposite method;
check spelling.

speaking

This section was not in the USE 2010, but it is still worth knowing the tips for this part.

if the task is not clear to you, ask the examiner about what is unclear;
use as many words as possible, show your vocabulary;
you must understand that you are required to express your personal opinion, and not discuss the topic with professionalism;
you may forget a word, in which case you don’t need to get lost, you can replace it with another word .;
you should be aware that this section is not intended for you to demonstrate that you can build sentences correctly. You need to show communication skills.

Are you taking the exam in English? So, you need to master such a difficult section as speaking, or the oral part. These are tasks C3, C4, C5 and C6 in the USE version. Most of the mistakes graduates make in these tasks.

We have prepared for you two real USE tests in English and samples of these tests. Each of them has 4 tasks. On this page - Test 1

Task C3 - reading.

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Task 1. Imagine that you are preparing a project with your friend. You have found some interesting material for the presentation and you want to read this text to your friend. You have 1.5 minutes to read the text silently, then be ready to read it out aloud. You will not have more than 1.5 minutes to read it.

Many lands that had once been swamps were drained or filled in. There are different reasons why people drained swamplands. Some were drained to fight diseases caused by insects that lived in them. Because swamps were considered unpleasant places in which to live and harmful to health, many people thought that unless they were drained the land was worthless.

Other swamps were drained to make new land. As the population grew and more land was needed, people drained swamps or filled them to make room for more farms and factories, more roads and airports.

Few people thought that it might be harmful to get rid of swamps. As swamps disappeared, other things happened. There were both more floods and more droughts than before. There were also more fires, for swamps had acted as firebreaks. Hunters noticed that there was less wild game. Wild life that once lived in the swamps was dying out, because it had no place to live.

Task C4 - make up questions.

Task 2. Study the advertisement.
You are going to visit Japan this summer and you’d like to have more information about the flights to Japan. In 1.5 minutes you are to ask five questions to find out the following:

1) departure dates
2) travel time
3) return ticket price
4) discounts for students
5) buying the ticket online
You have 20 seconds to ask each question.

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Task execution example:
1. What are the days of departures? (What are departure dates?)
2. How long will it take to travel?
3. How much does the return ticket cost? (What is the price of the return ticket?,
How much is the return ticket?
4. Do you offer any discounts for students? (Are there any discounts for students available?)
5. Is it possible to book the ticket online?

Task C5 - description of one picture.

Task 3. Imagine that you are showing pictures of your pets to your friend. Choose one photo to present to your friend. You will have to start speaking in 1.5 minutes and will speak for not more than 2 minutes. You have to talk continuously. In your talk remember to speak about:
when you took the photo
what/who is in the photo
what is happening
Why did you take the photo
Why did you decide to show the picture to your friend
Don’t forget to start with “I have chosen photo number….”

An example of a completed task C5:

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I have chosen photo number 1.
To begin with, people keep pets for different reasons. They make our lives more exciting and become the members of our family. They can also be our closest friends forever.

I took this photo last summer in our country house. We have got several pets and this dog is among them. All our pets are friendly and cute creatures.
Let me tell you a few words about this photo. In the background you can see a wonderful Russian landscape. In the foreground there is a wonderful lawn framed with lovely birches and bushes. In the center you can see my elder sister Sveta and our dog Snowflake. We called him so because he is as white and fluffy as snow.
The weather is fine, sunny and warm. Snowflake likes to go for a walk very much. In the photo Sveta is telling him something to keep him calm. You can't see me as I am taking the photo.
Taking this photo I wanted to start a collection of our pets' pictures and to display it on the wall in our living room. Besides, the photos will always remind us of our pets.
I decided to show this picture to you because you told me a lot about your dog. Now it's my turn to give you the first impression of my pet. Isn't he friendly and cute?
I believe when you come to our place , Snowflake will accept you as his best friend.
That is all I wanted to tell you about this photo.

Task C6 - comparison and comparison of two photographs.

Task 4. Study the two photographs. In 1.5 minutes be ready to compare and contrast the photographs:
give a brief description (action, location)
say what the pictures have in common
say in what way the pictures are different
say which kind of life you'd prefer
explain why

You will speak for no more than 2 minutes. You have to talk continuously.

Example of completed task C6:

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In our modern world some jobs are very important for our society.
Here are two pictures to compare and contrast on the topic. This is a photo of a man doing his job outside and that is a photo of a policeman standing on the side of the road.
These two pictures show jobs and this is the first similarity. The people in both pictures are wearing uniforms , and that is also what these pictures have in common. The weather is rather warm.
However, pictures are somehow different. The main difference is that in picture one we can see a worker , while in picture two there is a traffic policeman. Also, their actions are different: the worker is paving a sidewalk and the policeman is on duty watching the traffic on the road.
As far as I am concerned, the job of a traffic policeman (cop) is more important for the society because people of this profession are responsible for our safety and order on the roads. Besides, they control all drivers to keep and obey traffic rules. It is very important for all drivers and passengers' lives.
I've come to the end of my speaking. Thank you for listening.

The exam, in any language, has always raised many questions. But the exam in English does not cause so much negativity. It's just that most schoolchildren studied from textbooks, in which a huge number of tasks were built in the test version. Since schoolchildren are accustomed to such tasks, the exam is psychologically comfortable. But there are still many questions for future employers. Are tests able to show the level of language proficiency. After all, writing is one thing, and pronunciation and oral speech skills are another. But the rules are the same for all subjects and the format of the final exam is just that, and you need to prepare for it.

Types of preparation for the exam in English

Since oral skills will not help you pass the exam, then classes with a tutor can be wasted. If the classes consist mainly of oral communication, then they will not help prepare for the exam. The same is true with English courses. There is a huge amount of online on the Internet. So basically they improve oral skills then USE results they won't get any better. In this regard, the question arises: what is the best way to cook To USE in English?

How to prepare for the exam in English?

The first step is to identify gaps in your knowledge. After that, start to eliminate them. The best way to see your problems is to go through trial online tests of the Unified State Examination in English. On educational portal Uchistut.ru allows you to take trial tests of the Unified State Examination in English an unlimited number of times. During the test, your time is not limited, and you can open the textbook to refresh your knowledge. To pass the tests, you do not need to register or send SMS from your phone. After you have identified topics in which you do not feel confident, you can turn to specialists or independently pull up the material. But self-study threatens with mistakes that can cost you dearly on the exam. Therefore, it is worth choosing such English courses that will focus on knowledge gaps and help prepare for the exam. Preparatory courses are best for

A.EASILY LEARNED
B. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS
C. SADLY DISAPPEARING
D. RARELY BEATEN
E. SURPRISINGLY SUCCESSFUL
F. QUICKLY GROWING

	A B C D E F	Draughts (or ‘checkers’ as the Americans call it) is one of the most popular games around the world. The rules are simple. Even young children have no problem working out how to play. The top players study moves in the same way chess players do but anyone can pick it up and have a go. Getting to a high standard takes a lot of hard work and practice but the basics are not particularly difficult.
	A B C D E F	Since 1997, when the game of Ultima Online has become popular, many thousands of people have played all kinds of games online – and the numbers are still increasing rapidly. Every year, more and more people discover the pleasures of playing over the internet and the next generation of games consoles are being designed with that in mind. There seems to be no sign that this explosion in online games will stop any time soon.
	A B C D E F	It has been called the greatest phenomenon in the history of games, but when Trivial Pursuit was created by two friends in 1981, few people had any idea what a hit it would be. It was a quiz game and none of the games companies expected it to do well, until an American company became interested in it. Many millions of Trivial Pursuit games have been sold since then in 19 languages and 33 different countries.
	A B C D E F	Tigran Vartanovich Petrosian was chess world champion from 1963 to 1969. He dominated the game during those years and almost never lost. He was known as a player who was strong in defense and very few players got the better of him. In fact, his defensive play was so good that he was known as 'Iron Tigran'. When he did lose, it was big news in Moscow chess circles.
	A B C D E F	It seems that there have been some big changes in the British playground. Twenty years ago, traditional games were played in every school across the country during the break. These days, they are quickly being replaced by hand-held games consoles and other electronic games. Before long, there is a danger that traditional games could die out. Once they are forgotten, it may be impossible to bring these enjoyable pastimes back to the playground.

Although I left university with a good degree, I suddenly found that it was actually quite hard to find a job. After being unemployed for a few months, I realized I had to take the first thing that came along or I’d be in serious financial difficulties. And so, for six very long months, I became a market research telephone interviewer.

I knew it wasn't the best company in the world when they told me that I'd have to undergo three days of training before starting work, and that I wouldn't get paid for any of it. Still, I knew that the hourly rate when I actually did start full time would be good. So, I thought of the money I’d earn and put up with three days of unpaid training. Whatever those three days taught me, I wasn't prepared for the way I would be treated by the supervisors.

It was worse than being at school. There were about twenty interviewers like myself, each sitting in a small, dark booth with an ancient computer and a dirty telephone. The booths were around the walls of the fifth floor of a concrete office block, and the supervisors sat in the middle of the room, listening to all of our telephone interviews. We weren’t allowed to talk to each other, and if we took more than about two seconds from ending one phone call and starting another, they would shout at us to hurry up and get on with our jobs. We even had to ask permission to go to the toilet. I was amazed how slowly the day went.

It wouldn't have been so bad if what we were doing had been useful. But it wasn't. Most of our interviews were for a major telecommunications company. We’d have to ring up businesses and ask them things like, ‘Is your telecoms budget more than three million pounds a year?’ The chances are we’d get the reply, ‘Oh, I don’t think so. I'll ask my husband. This is a corner shop. We've only got one phone.' And so the day went on.

The most frightening aspect of the job was that I was actually quite good at it. ‘Oh no!’ I thought. ‘Maybe I’m destined to be a market researcher for the rest of my life.’ My boss certainly seemed to think so. One day - during a break, of course - she ordered me into her office. ‘Simon,’ she said, ‘I’m promoting you. From tomorrow, you're off telecoms and onto credit card complaints. I'm sure you can handle it. There's no extra pay, but it is a very responsible position.'

Three weeks later I quit. It was one of the best decisions I've ever made.

	Why did the writer become a market research telephone interviewer?
	A	He had completely run out of money.
	B	He had the right university degree for the job.
	C	It was the first job he was offered.
	D	He knew it was only for six months.

	The writer had doubts about the company when
	A	they only offered him three days of training.
	B	they told him he wouldn't receive payment for his training.
	C	they told him he had to be trained first.
	D	he was told what the hourly rate would be.

	His workplace could best be described as
	A	large and noisy.
	B	silent and dirty.
	C	untidy and crowded.
	D	old-fashioned and uncomfortable.

	What would have made the job more bearable?
	A	knowing that he was carrying out a valuable service
	B	being able to phone much larger companies
	C	not having to talk to shopkeepers
	D	not having to ring up businesses

	What was unusual about Simon's promotion?
	A	It showed how good he was at his job.
	B	It meant he would be phoning different people.
	C	It involved greater responsibility.
	D	There was no increase in salary.

11	The Russian writer Anton Chekhov, who was born in 1860 and died in 1904, made an enormous to modern literature. His	CONTRIBUTE
	success was a remarkable , and came despite the fact
13	that Chekhov's family lived in severe poverty for much of his .
	Chekhov’s works have had a great influence on 20th century literature in many ways, particularly in terms of plot and narrative structure, and character .
	Even today, more than a hundred years after his , Chekhov's stories are extremely popular all over the world.

Ruth knocked on the door. Dr Johansson opened it and led her excitedly inside. She had called him the day before to (16) ______ a b c d _______ a few facts for an article she was writing for the newspaper – Dr Johansson was a leading expert in physics – and he had invited her to go and see his latest experiment. At first, she had tried to (17) _____ a b c d _______ out of it, remembering the hours of physics lessons she had sat through at school. However, he had insisted (18) ______ a b c d ______ seeing her, saying that she wouldn't regret it. As they walked into the laboratory, Ruth wondered exactly what she was letting herself in for. A cat sat on a workbench. It opened one eye lazily and looked at her. There was a black box connected to a computer and another black box on the other side of the room.
‘Now, Miss Evans,’ said Dr Johansson, with a slight foreign (19) ______ a b c d ______. ‘What are you about to see may change the world forever!’
He pushed a couple of buttons and a low hum filled the room. ‘I have been conducting experiments on this for three years, and finally I have succeeded.’
Dr Johansson picked up the cat and placed it in the black box, closing the lid gently. He stood Ruth next to the other black box.
‘The transportation of a living creature!’ Dr Johansson said triumphantly, and he pressed a final button. There was a spark of electricity in the air. He opened the box and the cat had disappeared.
‘You…you’ve killed it!’ Ruth shouted. Dr Johansson smiled and pointed to the black box next to her. He (20) ______ a b c d ______ her to look inside. She slowly lifted the lid. The cat looked up at her, then closed its eyes and settled down for a nap.