COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS
1) Tick (√) the most appropriate title to the text. (1 mark)
a- The end of an imperfect product
b- The story of a revolutionary invention
c- The dreams of an unfortunate inventor
d- The long history of vacuum cleaners
2) The following statements are false. Correct them with details from the text. (4
marks)
a- Dyson signed a contract with a major manufacturer to produce his invention.
…………………………………………………………………………………………
b- The competition between vacuum-cleaner companies was over innovation.
…………………………………………………………………………………………
c- The problem with traditional vacuum cleaners is high power consumption.
…………………………………………………………………………………………
d- Dyson’s story was kept secret until his product achieved success.
…………………………………………………………………………………………
3) Complete with words from paragraph 2. (3 marks)
Customers could read the product’s story on its ………………………: James Dyson
figured out the …………………. of conventional vacuum cleaners and
………….……… with a machine in which dust is taken apart from the air.
4) Mention two design features that contributed to the success of the product. (2
marks)
a- …………………………………………………………………………………………
b- …………………………………………………………………………………………
5) Find in the text synonyms for the following words. (2 marks)
a- Clear (par. 2): ……………………………..
b- Long-lasting (par. 3): …………………………..
6) What do the underlined pronouns in the text refer to? (2 mark)
a- its (par1): …………………………………
b- it (par. 2): ………………………………
7) Give a personal justified answer to the following question. (1 mark)
Do you think Dyson’s invention would have achieved such enormous success hadn’t it
been designed in attractive shape?
…………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………
WRITING
1) Use the information in the table below to write a 5-line paragraph about ‘duolingo’,
an online language learning platform. (5 marks)
LAUNCH November 2011/ Pittsburg, California
SERVICES language learning/ assessment/ translation
COST free of charge/ ad-free
POPULARITY 100 million users/ all the world
AWARDS iPhone App of the Year (2013)/ Best Education Startup (2014)
………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………
2) An increasing number of your classmates prefer to spend their holidays in front of
their computer screens. Write them a 12-line e-mail in which you show the benefits of
outdoor activities and encourage them to consider some outing choices. (10 marks)
………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………
LANGUAGE
3) Fill in the blanks with six words from the box. (3 marks)
amusing - next - clearly - said - reality – vacationing – at - costly
Scientists and players in the space race say that the long-fanciful idea of
………………………….. in space, if only for a few moments, is about to become
…………………………... “There’s no question, in the ………………………….. couple of
years there’s going to be commercial space tourism,” ………………………….. Roger D.
Launius, senior curator of space history ………………………….. the National Air and Space
Museum at the Smithsonian Institution. “That’s ………………………….. going to happen.”
4) Circle the right alternative. (4 marks)
Summer in Tasmania is the perfect time to (enjoyable/enjoy/enjoys) a bushwalk – it’s warm
enough to wear shorts, but not so hot (thus/then/that) you’re going to pass out 10 minutes
into the trip. Grab a couple of bottles of water and head (for/from/to) Lake St Clair National
Park, around two hours from Hobart, and scale the peak of the (iconically/iconic/icons)
Cradle Mountain. There are plenty of bushwalks available, from short walks to walks
(designed/designs/designer) to span over several days. For (this/these/those) who like a bit
more of a challenge, navigate Australia’s (much/more/most) famous hike – the Overland
Track. This 6-day, 65km track is as unforgiving as it is rewarding, and showcases the
untouched (beautifully/beautify/beauty) of the Tasmanian landscape.
5) Supply the right tense or form of the bracketed words. (3 marks)
When Tholfikar Altaie moved to New York he wasn't (look) ……………………… for
the American dream -- he just wanted a job. He arrived with an MBA and was the security
(manage) ……………………… for the United Nations office in Iraq, his homeland. But
when he (come) ……………………… to New York City in 2009 he couldn't find work.
When he did, it (be) ……………………… in retail sales at a Century 21 department store. "I
was (real) ……………………… disappointed," Altaie, 28, said. "The problem is you think
you'll find a lot of work, you have a master's degree, then you discover that everyone also
(do) ……………………… too and no one contacts you when you submit your resume."