Professional Documents
Culture Documents
1ºbach - End of Term 1
1ºbach - End of Term 1
1 Replace the words in bold with the words from box A and a prefix from box B. Use one prefix twice. (1 point)
A reliable • honest • sociable • dependent • polite
B im- • dis- • un- • in-
2 Complete the passage with the words below. There are more words than you need. (1 point)
finish line • talent • attractive • beat • match • heavy • enters competitions • straight • determined • gains
TENNIS CHAMPION
Professional tennis player Maria Sharapova was born in Russia in 1987.
Although she moved to the United States when she was seven years old, Sharapova is still a Russian citizen and represents Rus sia
when she (1) ……………………… .
Sharapova has won three Grand Slam competitions during her career – the Australian Open in 2008, the US Open in 2006 and
Wimbledon in 2004, where, at the age of 17, she (2) ……………………… Serena Williams.
When Sharapova isn’t playing tennis, she works as a fashion model. She’s got long, (3) ……………………… blonde hair and is quite
tall. In 2006, this (4) ……………………… woman appeared in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Photo Gallery.
Like all competitors who are (5) …………………… to win, Sharapova plays a very aggressive game. Her (6) …………………… and the
experience she (7) …………………from each (8) ……………… she plays will surely keep her in the public eye for a long time to come.
3 Complete the sentences with the verbs in brackets. Use the Present Simple, Present Continuous, Past Simple,
Past Continuous, Present Perfect Simple or Past Perfect Simple. (1 point)
1. Lydia always ……………………………… (try) to stay calm and relaxed.
2. “Where ……………… you ……………………… (go) when I saw you yesterday?”
3. There was a great film on TV last night, but we ……………………………… (not watch) it because we had visitors.
4. Cathy needs a holiday. She ……………………………… (not be) on holiday since 2006.
5. Venus ……………………………… (play) many tennis matches before she finally lost to Maria.
6. Shh! Anne ……………………………… (work) and she hates noise.
7 By the time we arrived at the hotel, our friends ……………………………… already……………………………….(check in)
8. There must be a problem because the plane ……………………………… yet. (not take off)
4 Rewrite the following sentences using the words in brackets. Do not change the meaning of the original sentence. (1
point)
1. “What is the price of the train ticket?” asked George. (cost)
.........................................................................................................................................................
2. We were sitting under a beach umbrella during the rain yesterday afternoon. (while)
.........................................................................................................................................................
3. Tony is going to visit Canada for the first time. (never)
.........................................................................................................................................................
4. Brian left home on Monday. (not / since)
.........................................................................................................................................................
5. Did you taste sushi for the first time during your visit to Japan? (ever / before)
.........................................................................................................................................................
I Have you ever heard hip hop played on the violin? If your answer is no, you’ve probably never heard of Nuttin’ But
Stringz (NBS). NBS are a brother duo who are bridging the gap between popular and classical music. Wearing trainers,
baggy jeans, T-shirts and baseball caps, musicians Damien (aged 18) and Tourie (aged 20) Escobar look like they are about to
begin a rap performance. However, they combine hip hop, jazz, R&B and classical music.
II The brothers grew up in a poor neighbourhood in New York. When Tourie was eight years old, he took up the violin in a
music class but quit after a year to do athletics, play tennis and swim. Damien eventually went to the same music class,
but unlike Tourie, was playing Beethoven by the age of 10. Tourie eventually went back to playing the violin. He was
accepted for weekend classes by the top music conservatory in New York City – the Julliard School of Music. He
couldn’t read music, but his natural ability impressed the teachers.
III While barely teenagers, the boys began playing their violins on the New York City subway and getting lots of money
from passers-by. Tourie quit school and soon began getting into trouble. When he was almost killed in a gang fight, he
decided it was time to change his ways.
IV In 2003, the two brothers became a musical team, hired a manager and began performing. At first they played at small
clubs and school events. People realised that the Escobar brothers were doing something original, which was the key to
their success. Since then, they have performed on TV, in New York City’s famous Carnegie Hall and at the White House.
They have also appeared internationally.
V In October 2006, their first album, Struggle from the Subway to the Charts, was released. Successful singles include
Dance with My Father and Thunder. Tourie and Damien are proud of the admiration and respect they receive from their
contemporaries. And they have every right to be – they have come a long way and still have far to go.
5 Decide if the following sentences are true (T) or false 6 Answer the questions with your own words. (2
(F). Find evidence in the text to justify your answers. points)
(1 point)
1. Why is NBS’s music unique?
…… 1. The Escobar brothers appear dressed like rappers ..........................................................................................
at their performances. ........................................................................................ .
............................................................................... 2. What were The Escobar brothers backgrounds like?
…… 2. Tourie couldn’t read music, so he wasn’t allowed to ........................................................................................ .
study at the top music schools. ........................................................................................ .
............................................................................... 3. What negative event in Tourie’s life had a positive effect
…… 3. The boys had fun in the subway practising the on him?
violin and riding on the trains. ........................................................................................ .
............................................................................... ........................................................................................ .
…… 4. Tourie had a troubled childhood 4. What was the effect?
..........................................................................................
...............................................................................
........................................................................................ .
…… 5. The writer believes that NBS will be a big hit.
...............................................................................
7 Find words or expressions in the text that mean: 8 Write a composition of about 100-120 words. Choose
(1 point) one option. Specify your option. (2 points)
1. Write a descriptive essay about a musical group or
1. making a connection ………………………
individual that you admire. Give background
2. acting ……………………… information and give reasons for your choice.
3. left ………………………
2. If you were a gifted person, what types of talents would
4. in the end ………………………
you like to have? Why?
5. peers; same-age people ………………………