Formative Test 1 – Year 10 Name: ___________________________________

Part 2 – Use of English

A) Fill in the text with the missing words according to the options given below. (8X2=16)
Write only the numbers and the words.

Recent discoveries about music

Music instruments appeared 40,000 years 1.____ ago, but music had already seen part of human
life 2.____ for a long time. Some scientists found 3.____ out that before humans invented language,
they had used music to communicate 4.____ in the past. Scientists also believe that while humans
were developing into what we are today, music helped 5.____ them create a group identity that
made them really successful. Some say that while pre-historic mothers were looking 6.____ for food,
they might have used their singing to keep 7.____ their babies calm. 8.____This indicates a strong
connection between music and the way our species developed.

1. now ago yet already

2. because of since for due to
3. out in off on
4. on under with in
5. the they them their
6. like for at to
7. their they them this
8. these this that those

B) Complete the following sentences with the correct verb tense: Present Simple, Present
Continuous, Past Simple or Past Continuous. (5X4=20)

1. Jamie Cullum _______________ (play) at the Coliseum right now.

2. No, Coldplay _______________ (not / be) my favourite band. Nirvana is!
3. _______________ (you / buy) the latest album from Katy Perry yesterday?
Yes, I _______________ . I _______________ (search) for it yesterday afternoon at 4 p.m. while
you were in your piano lesson.
Part 3 – Reading

You are going to read a blog post about how music and language are related.

5 INTERESTING LINKS BETWEEN MUSIC AND LANGUAGE

1 Whether it’s spoken, signed or written, language is universal. Did you know music is not far
behind? There are very few cultures (if any) in the world that do not have music of some sort. Music
and language have closer links than just being something that we all do, though. Let’s take a look at
five interesting things that you might not know music and language shared.
5 Music has traditionally been associated with bringing people together. Whether it’s through a
shared emotional experience, appreciation of an art form, or as part of a ceremony or ritual, music is
usually a group activity. Language is the same – most people don’t speak to themselves; it takes two
or more people to communicate.
Studies have shown the same area of the brain is active with musicians listening to music and
10 listening to language. The area is generally thought to be where we process language. Interestingly,
when non-musicians listen to music, they do not process it in the same area as language. This suggests
that, while we can all process language in a similar way, it takes practice to process music on a deeper
level.
Think about a memorable voice. The voice of someone very close to you. You tell that voice
15 apart from someone else’s even if they were saying the same words, right? The same is the case for
music. Even without words, we can tell the difference between different people playing the same piece
of music. The way our brain processes language and music is more than simply recognising words or
notes, it’s highly complex and uses similar areas of the brain.
A study in 2010 has shown that people who studied music before the age of seven developed
20 larger vocabularies and a better understanding of grammar than those who didn’t. It’s also commonly
thought that those who learn a musical instrument at a young age find it easier to learn second
languages later in life than those who don’t.
There have been many studies into the links between learning music or a second language and
a lower risk of dementia in old age. So, if you want to keep your brain healthy, learning music or a
25 second language might help.
In https://englishlive.ef.com (adapted)
 A) Match the ideas in column A with the corresponding paragraph in column B. One paragraph
does not apply. (5X4=20)
COLUMN A COLUMN B
Paragraph 1
1. Music and language keep your brain fit
Paragraph 2
2. Music helps your grammar and vocabulary
Paragraph 3
3. Music and language are forms of social bonding
Paragraph 4
4. It’s quite easy to recognise the sound of a familiar voice
Paragraph 5
5. Processing music is more difficult than processing language
Paragraph 6

B) Complete the sentences according to the text. (3X10=30)

1. If you are a non-musician, listening to music and listening to language will activate …
2. Not only can people’s voices be recognised but also the way different musicians play …
3. Learning a second language is easier if …

C) Say what or who the following words refer to. (4X4=16)

1. that (line 2)
2. that (line 4)
3. they (line 11)
4. it (line11)

D) Find synonyms for the following words / expressions in the 1st and 2nd paragraphs, from
line 1 to line 8. (4X4=16)
1. not many
2. connections
3. had in common
4. usually

E) Complete the text with the words in the box. There is two extra options. (5x4=20)

song singer headphones fan favourite lyrics radio

I’m mad about music!

My 1. _______________ type of music is rock. I’ve been a rock music 2. _______________ for
two years, since I heard Foo Fighters on the 3. _______________ – they’re a great American band! For
me, their best 4. _______________ is Learn to Fly. Some of my friends don’t really like rock. They listen
to rap or pop bands and singers. They’re OK, of course, but I prefer listening to rock music. I like rock
music because the singers have got great voices and the 5. _______________ are usually good, too. They
mean something. I listen to rock music nearly all the time. I usually listen with 6. _______________ on
in my bedroom.

Part 4 – Writing

A) Write an opinion essay on the importance of music in teenagers’ lives. Write about 100-120
words. (50 p.)