Name Class Date

SKILLS TEST 9 Basic

READING
Read the article and the comments quickly. Then answer the questions on the next page.

On Time for Questions last night, a member of the audience asked the panel whether they believed in
freedom of speech – the right to say or publish anything you want. Of course, at first, they insisted that
people should be allowed to say what they want, without fear of any kind of punishment. After all, we
live in a free country. However, when the presenter invited the politicians to talk about how they felt,
they all gave slightly different views. James Front, the spokesperson for the government, suggested
that the media should be controlled more. He said that it was acceptable for the government to
provide clear rules and laws as to what the media should and should not be allowed to publish or
broadcast. Neil Moran, of the National Independence Party agreed completely, blaming the media
not only for being prejudiced, but for printing lies about him. He accused many newspapers and
TV stations of bias and being afraid to tell the truth about what was happening in the country. The
opposition spokesperson, Caroline Jones disagreed completely, warning the audience that free speech
would be under threat if politicians started deciding what newspapers were allowed to print.

Comments
Ken232 Alt100 to be controlled more. The
media should not serve people
I don’t think the government As usual, Neil Moran is the only
who have power, many of whom
should control the media. person telling the truth. He is
might be corrupt, and find that
That would be completely the only person who is truly
hate speech is good for their
unethical. We need a media concerned about our country.
election prospects.
which is free to comment on It is under threat, and we must
what the government is doing, do everything that is necessary Pete1948
and if necessary, say when the to protect it. It is not acceptable Seldom do politicians tell
government is doing something that the media ignores him and the truth. If I had my way,
badly. It worries me very much his message. we wouldn’t let any of them
that the government wants to Joanne speak at all! What concerns
create even more laws to restrict me, though, is that anybody
journalists. I do think that there need
can go online these days, and
to be clear laws about what
Leanne12 people can say in public. There
say what they want. People
throw abuse at each other,
What was Neil Moran doing shouldn’t be hate speech, for
bully each other, and that’s
on this programme? He’s not example, against minorities or
not acceptable. Usually, this
even an elected politician! They immigrants or people who hold
is done anonymously, and it
only invited him because he’s different points of view. People
can cause a lot of damage.
entertaining. And that’s the should be allowed to say or
That’s not freedom of speech.
problem. Channel 1 always tries publish what they want, as long
That’s freedom to hide behind
to be balanced and unbiased, as it doesn’t lead to violence.
a fake internet profile, and hurt
but in the process, it gives equal However, I’m afraid that’s not people. This is what we need to
publicity to people who should what the government has in control.
not be given any! mind when they want the media

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 Name Class Date

SKILLS TEST 9 Basic

READING
1 Read the review and comments. Choose the correct answers.

1 Time for Questions is a political / historical discussion programme.

2 The topic was about being free / restricted to say or print anything you want.

3 At first, the politicians said that people should / shouldn’t be allowed to say or publish what they want.

4 They went on to agree / disagree with each other.

5 Caroline Jones / James Front thought that politicians should have more control over the media.

6 James Front / Neil Moran thought that the media should do a better job.

7 All of the people posting comments agree / disagree with each other.

2 Read the review and comments again. Complete the sentences with words from the list.
danger damage laws accurately unbiased risk government control

1 Neil Moran argues that the media never reports things .

2 Pete1948 comments that people use new channels of communication to cause .

3 James Front thinks that more should be created to control what the media can do.

4 Ken232 thinks that the media should have the power to express opinions about the .

5 Leanne12 says that a completely media can cause problems.

6 Alt100 comments that a biased media puts the country at .

7 Caroline Jones said that free speech could be in danger from government .

8 Joanne comments that freedom of speech should not put people in .

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SKILLS TEST 9 Basic

LISTENING
3 Listen and decide who says these things: Tom (T) or Anna, the presenter (A).

0 A footballer has done something wrong. A

1 People are attacking the footballer without good reason.

2 What people are saying about the footballer may not be true.

3 Match-fixing is a serious issue.

4 People controlling the newspapers and TV are enjoying this.

5 The media might be able to help the footballer.

6 The footballer is an important figure, and should be treated much better than he is.

7 The footballer’s name will suffer for a long time after this.

7


4 Listen again and write the correct words in the gaps. Use words you hear. You have the
first letter of each word.

0 Zack Strider is on trial for altering the way a football game is played.

1 Tom says that no w have come forward to give evidence about Strider.

2 He thinks that the way the media has treated Strider is not r .

3 They have already decided that he is guilty of being a c footballer.

4 He also says that the media are p against Strider.

5 The presenter suggests that the media could come to Strider’s d if he goes to court.

6 Tom believes that Strider should be given r , as would be normal for a national hero.

7 The presenter says that even if the v goes against Strider, he can appeal it.

8 Whatever happens, Tom believes that Strider’s r will suffer because of all the bad media
publicity.

 8

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SKILLS TEST 9 Basic

WRITING
5 Write an essay (around 150–200 words) about the following statement:
Prisons should be abolished in today’s society. They are an ineffective solution to fighting crime.

Remember to plan your essay using paragraphs to outline your argument and present ideas in favour of
the statement and arguments against it.

For Against
1 1

2 2

3 3

 20

SPEAKING
6 Look at the situations below. In pairs, discuss your opinions for each of them. Do you think the situations
are fair? How would you change them? What changes would you hope for? What are the consequences?

Your local council has just announced plans to close the local library because of cuts to the budget. The nearest
• 
library will be in the next town.

• 
The local sports centre is stopping its youth exercise development programme because there are not enough
volunteers to run it.

• 
The government has announced a plan to build a motorway very close to where you live. It will create lots of jobs
and boost the economy but the local residents will be affected by the building work.

 20

TOTAL SCORE 70

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