PASSAGE 1

Computer game exhibition

Have you ever tried playing the kind of video games that your parents played? The Museum of
Science in Manchester, in the UK, has held an exhibition for the last few years, which invites
visitors to do exactly that. It offers them the chance to play games from the last 40 years, in various
sessions throughout the day.
These video games sessions have now become one of the main attractions of the museum. They
are full of people every day, playing a wide range of games.
(1)…….. For parents, for example, these are usually the games they used to play in their childhood.
There’s also an educational purpose to the games. For instance, some old types of computer, dating
back 40 years, are also available in the sessions. They were originally used in classrooms to teach
pupils to write their own computer programs.
(2)…….. Now, the museum is holding workshops that encourage children to learn similar skills –
and they’re still very popular.
The sessions are also seen as social events, as people discover how much fun it is to play video
games with other family members. And there’s also an area at Power Up! where a number of
visitors can sit down together. (3)…….. And nowadays, this is often how fans of video games are
more likely to experience playing.
The exhibition also shows how much progress technology has made over the last 40 years. Parents
can often remember playing very simple games. But the games that are played today are more
complex. (4)…….. And the players also have to use much more complicated techniques.
However, one serious side of the exhibition is that organisers also want to show that video gaming
is an important industry, employing many skilled people.
(5)…….. That way, people who enjoy gaming will also understand all the hard work, talent and
imagination that goes into creating these amazing games.
A Visitors each pay for 90-minute sessions.
B And at the time, it helped lots of young people to do that.
C So they hope the exhibition will share this message.
D But not everyone thinks it’s a lot of fun.
E However, visitors often choose the ones they’re similar with.
F They have better storylines and animation, too.
G They also create the music to go with the game.
H Then they can all enjoy playing the same game.
 PASSAGE 2
The story of the carrot and the ring
Have you ever lost something that was precious to you, and thought you’d never see it again?
That’s what happened to Mary Grams from Canada.
Mary had worn her engagement ring for more than half a century when she suddenly lost it. She
was working in her garden on the family farm one day, pulling out a plant. (1)……….. When she
discovered it was missing, she searched everywhere for it for days, before finally giving up.
Mary realised she probably wasn’t going to find the ring again. So she decided not to tell anyone
about what had happened, apart from her son. Instead, she thought she would replace it with a
much cheaper ring from a jeweller’s. (2)……….. In fact, it was so similar that no-one else in her
family even knew her original ring was missing.
But the story has a happy ending. Mary eventually got her engagement ring back – 13 years after
it was lost! One day Mary’s daughter-in-law Colleen was working in the same garden where Mary
had been all those years ago.
(3)……….. But this time it looked a bit different – because there was a carrot growing right
through the middle of it!
As soon as Colleen saw the ring, she knew immediately who the owner was. The farm had been
in the family for over 100 years. (4)……….. So when Colleen discovered the story of the lost ring,
it became clear there was only one person it could possibly have belonged to, and the ring was
returned to Mary.
Mary decided to remove her ring from the carrot and wear it again. (5)……….. Then the ring was
washed, and Mary put it back on her finger – and it still fitted perfectly!
A She was digging up vegetables there when she discovered the ring.
B That gave her a very good idea about what to do with the carrot.
C And that was probably when the ring came off her finger.
D So she carefully cut the carrot in half.
E She had never seen anything like it before.
F And only two women had lived there in all that time.
G It was tiring work, as some of them were very big.
H Luckily, she managed to find another one that looked just like it.
 PASSAGE 3
Karina Moore – teenage high diver!
Several times a week, teenager Karina Moore trains at her local pool to jump from the high-diving
board into the water – in an attempt to become a national diving champion.
Karina first learned about diving during a family break in Spain, where the resort’s pool had a
high-diving board. Young people were diving off it, and it looked fun, but Karina didn’t join in,
even though she was a strong swimmer. Then after returning home, she discovered a long-distance
runner she’d always admired had started diving for relaxation – so she became more interested.
Karina joined a beginners’ diving class at her local pool. They had several sessions jumping onto
soft materials before trying the high board. ‘The water looked a long way down,’ says Karina, ‘but
after our training, I felt I’d handle it – without injuring myself? They’d warned me I’d land in the
water fast – at around 60 kph – but I was prepared. I couldn’t wait to get started – although the
others weren’t so keen! Anyway, I wasn’t disappointed by the experience.’
In Karina’s area, there’s now lots of interest in high diving, but it’s sometimes difficult for
swimmers to find suitable practice facilities. Although the pools are deep enough, they’re in use
so often by diving clubs that other people don’t get opportunities to practise. Fortunately, though,
Karina’s coach noticed her talent and helped her develop her techniques. After also two years,
she’s winning competitions in her area.
But what’s it like to concentrate so much on diving? ‘I train 20 hours a week’ says Karina, ‘and I
won’t pretend it’s easy – you have to enjoy it to spend so much time doing it! It’s not easy for my
parents either, though – they drive me to training sessions early in the morning, and that costs
money. But they’re had financial help from sports organisations, luckily. And my schoolwork and
social life are good. I still meet my mates – and there’s always the phone! The only thing I hadn’t
realised was that the pool water would damage my hair – I used to love my long hair, but I’ve had
to cut it short because it looked awful! But I’ll definitely keep on diving!’
1 What made Karina keen to take up diving?
A She wanted to repeat her holiday experience.
B She found out her athletics hero had taken it up.
C She’d visited a pool where some teenagers were doing it.
D She wanted a new challenge after her success at swimming.
2 How did Karina feel the first time she used the high board?
A worried about how fat it was above the pool
B pleased to experience it with other beginners
C confident that she wouldn’t get hurt
 D shocked to hit the water at such speed
3 What does the writer suggest about diving facilities in Karina’s area?
A They’re not used as much as they could be.
B There aren’t enough coaches teaching people to use them.
C There aren’t as many boards as there used to be.
D They’re not available to the public for long enough each day.
4 How does Karina feel about spending so much time diving?
A surprised by one effect it has had on her
B sorry she no longer sees her friends so much
C anxious about the amount of money it costs
D grateful to be able to focus on something she loves
5 What would the writer say about Karina?
A She’s a young girl who’s achieved a lot by becoming a national diving champion – and all
with very little support.
B She’s made enormous progress in a very short time – after only a couple of years, she’s
already showing great signs of success.
C She has a lot of natural talent, but she’s already thinking of having a break from the high
board for a while.
D She’s sad that she’s given up almost everything for her sport – and her lifestyle really
sounds quite hard.
 PASSAGE 4
Robert Taylor talks about his new art show
Like all children, I was always getting myself and the kitchen table in a mess when I first took an
interest in painting. Unlike many kids, who give up activities like art for other subjects when they
go through school, I continued painting throughout my childhood. Now, after years of enjoyment,
I’ve finally taken the scary decision to show off some of my favourite pieces of work by holding
an exhibition at Glebe Street library. Inviting people to see my work is a new idea and one which
I’m looking forward to.
I’ve never had any formal art training. When I was trying to decide what I should study at university,
art as a subject never entered my head. I always thought my parents wanted me to follow a subject
that would be useful when I was looking for a job, so I ended up taking a business course. Looking
back, my parents would probably have supported me whatever my decision, but I decided to do
what I thought was best for everyone.
And during my time at university, I rarely did much in the way of painting. It wouldn’t have been
easy to paint anyway as I lived in university accommodation and had very little space. I kept an
interest in art though and visited local exhibitions whenever I could, but that was about it. It was
later in my thirties while I was working that I discovered my love of the activity again. Since then
I’ve made a point of spending at least one evening a week painting.
However, my works have only ever been seen by trusted friends and relatives. They’ve always
given me plenty of support and encouraged me to continue with my art. But I’ve always wondered
what people who I didn’t know would think, people who could give me an honest opinion of my
ability. The library have been very helpful and offered me a room for the show. They’ve asked me
to supply questionnaires about the event and I’ve included a section for visitors· comments about
the works. I’m very much looking forward to reading these opinions.
1 What does Robert say about art?
A Children usually continue doing it at school.
B He had to give it up to do other subjects.
C The thought of showing off his work is a little frightening.
D He has often thought about letting people see his work.
2 When deciding what to study at university
A Robert didn’t consider doing art.
B his parents didn’t want him to study art.
C he thought he would need a job while he was studying.
D Robert understood correctly what his parents wanted him to do.
3 What happened while Robert was at university?
A He didn’t do any painting.
B He discovered his love of painting again.
C He was still keen on art.
D He painted at least one evening a week.
4 Robert is holding the exhibition because
A his friends and relatives encouraged him to do this.
B the library asked him to.
C he is interested in getting opinions from friends and relatives.
D he wants to know what strangers think of his work.
5 What would be a good introduction to this article?
A Robert Taylor tells us how a love of art can lead to a change of career.
B If your child shows an interest in art, Robert Taylor will explain how to support this activity.
C After years in the shadows, Robert Taylor is about to face the public with his works.
D If you’re keen on developing your artistic skills, Robert Taylor explains how to get support
from friends and relatives.