Valentina Tareshkova was born on 6 March 1937 in Maslennikovo, a small town in the Yaroslavl region of the former USSR. Her father, a tractor driver, was killed in action during World War II. Her mother, Elena Fedorovna, worked in a textile factory.

Valentina began school in 1945 in Yaroslavl at the age of eight. In 1953, she left school and began working, but continued her education by following a correspondence course. By 1961, she had gained a certificate in textile technology.

From an early age, Valentina was interested in parachute jumping and it was the interest that led to her career as a cosmonaut. She made her first parachute jump under the guidance of the local Aviation Club in Yaroslavl at the age of 22, on 21 May 1959.

Soon after she set up the Textile Mill Workers’ Parachute Club and became its first committee leader. She was one of five women selected as cosmonaut candidates on 16 February 1962. All five underwent the complete course of training, including weightless flights, parachute jumps, isolation tests and centrifuge tests, While Valentina excelled in the physical training, she had more difficulty with rocket theory and spacecraft engineering. The training included 120 parachute jumps and pilot training with jet fighters.

On 14 June 1963, the rocket Vostok 5 was launched with cosmonauts Valeri Bykovsky aboard, and, two days later, Valentina Tareshkova became the first woman in space aboard Vostok 6. The Russian space federation was unhappy with Tereshkova’s performance and she was not permitted to take manual control of the spacecraft as had been planned. However, she completed three days in space, more than the flight time of all the American astronauts put together.

Tareshkova married Andrian Nikolayev, the only bachelor cosmonaut to have flown in space, on 3 November 1963, and, on 8 June 1964, Valentina gave birth to a daughter, Elena Andrianovna, who later went on to become a doctor. But the marriage did not last long and the space family fell apart.

(Taken from English as a Second Language Course Book, Cambridge)

This passage is mainly concerned with …

• Tareshkova’s charities

• Tareshkova’s career

• Tareshkova’s school life

• Tareshkova’s family

• Tareshkova’s early life

Valentina Tareshkova was born on 6 March 1937 in Maslennikovo, a small town in the Yaroslavl region of the former USSR. Her father, a tractor driver, was killed in action during World War II. Her mother, Elena Fedorovna, worked in a textile factory.

Valentina began school in 1945 in Yaroslavl at the age of eight. In 1953, she left school and began working, but continued her education by following a correspondence course. By 1961, she had gained a certificate in textile technology.

From an early age, Valentina was interested in parachute jumping and it was the interest that led to her career as a cosmonaut. She made her first parachute jump under the guidance of the local Aviation Club in Yaroslavl at the age of 22, on 21 May 1959.

Soon after she set up the Textile Mill Workers’ Parachute Club and became its first committee leader. She was one of five women selected as cosmonaut candidates on 16 February 1962. All five underwent the complete course of training, including weightless flights, parachute jumps, isolation tests and centrifuge tests, While Valentina excelled in the physical training, she had more difficulty with rocket theory and spacecraft engineering. The training included 120 parachute jumps and pilot training with jet fighters.

On 14 June 1963, the rocket Vostok 5 was launched with cosmonauts Valeri Bykovsky aboard, and, two days later, Valentina Tareshkova became the first woman in space aboard Vostok 6. The Russian space federation was unhappy with Tereshkova’s performance and she was not permitted to take manual control of the spacecraft as had been planned. However, she completed three days in space, more than the flight time of all the American astronauts put together.

Tareshkova married Andrian Nikolayev, the only bachelor cosmonaut to have flown in space, on 3 November 1963, and, on 8 June 1964, Valentina gave birth to a daughter, Elena Andrianovna, who later went on to become a doctor. But the marriage did not last long and the space family fell apart.

(Taken from English as a Second Language Course Book, Cambridge)

But the marriage did not last long and the space family fell apart.

It means that Tareshkova … her husband.

• Divorced

• Proposed

• Engaged

• Allied

• Supported

Valentina Tareshkova was born on 6 March 1937 in Maslennikovo, a small town in the Yaroslavl region of the former USSR. Her father, a tractor driver, was killed in action during World War II. Her mother, Elena Fedorovna, worked in a textile factory.

Valentina began school in 1945 in Yaroslavl at the age of eight. In 1953, she left school and began working, but continued her education by following a correspondence course. By 1961, she had gained a certificate in textile technology.

From an early age, Valentina was interested in parachute jumping and it was the interest that led to her career as a cosmonaut. She made her first parachute jump under the guidance of the local Aviation Club in Yaroslavl at the age of 22, on 21 May 1959.

Soon after she set up the Textile Mill Workers’ Parachute Club and became its first committee leader. She was one of five women selected as cosmonaut candidates on 16 February 1962. All five underwent the complete course of training, including weightless flights, parachute jumps, isolation tests and centrifuge tests, while Valentina excelled in the physical training, she had more difficulty with rocket theory and spacecraft engineering. The training included 120 parachute jumps and pilot training with jet fighters.

On 14 June 1963, the rocket Vostok 5 was launched with cosmonauts Valeri Bykovsky aboard, and, two days later, Valentina Tareshkova became the first woman in space aboard Vostok 6. The Russian space federation was unhappy with Tereshkova’s performance and she was not permitted to take manual control of the spacecraft as had been planned. However, she completed three days in space, more than the flight time of all the American astronauts put together.

Tareshkova married Andrian Nikolayev, the only bachelor cosmonaut to have flown in space, on 3 November 1963, and, on 8 June 1964, Valentina gave birth to a daughter, Elena Andrianovna, who later went on to become a doctor. But the marriage did not last long and the space family fell apart.

(Taken from English as a Second Language Course Book, Cambridge)

What did Tareshkova do after gaining a certificate in textile technology?

• Left school and began working

• Set up the Textile Mill Workers’ Parachute Club

• Became the first woman in space aboard Vostok 6

• Completed three days in space

• Gave birth to a daughter, Elena Andrianovna

Valentina Tareshkova was born on 6 March 1937 in Maslennikovo, a small town in the Yaroslavl region of the former USSR. Her father, a tractor driver, was killed in action during World War II. Her mother, Elena Fedorovna, worked in a textile factory.

Valentina began school in 1945 in Yaroslavl at the age of eight. In 1953, she left school and began working, but continued her education by following a correspondence course. By 1961, she had gained a certificate in textile technology.

From an early age, Valentina was interested in parachute jumping and it was the interest that led to her career as a cosmonaut. She made her first parachute jump under the guidance of the local Aviation Club in Yaroslavl at the age of 22, on 21 May 1959.

Soon after she set up the Textile Mill Workers’ Parachute Club and became its first committee leader. She was one of five women selected as cosmonaut candidates on 16 February 1962. All five underwent the complete course of training, including weightless flights, parachute jumps, isolation tests and centrifuge tests, while Valentina excelled in the physical training, she had more difficulty with rocket theory and spacecraft engineering. The training included 120 parachute jumps and pilot training with jet fighters.

On 14 June 1963, the rocket Vostok 5 was launched with cosmonauts Valeri Bykovsky aboard, and, two days later, Valentina Tareshkova became the first woman in space aboard Vostok 6. The Russian space federation was unhappy with Tereshkova’s performance and she was not permitted to take manual control of the spacecraft as had been planned. However, she completed three days in space, more than the flight time of all the American astronauts put together.

Tareshkova married Andrian Nikolayev, the only bachelor cosmonaut to have flown in space, on 3 November 1963, and, on 8 June 1964, Valentina gave birth to a daughter, Elena Andrianovna, who later went on to become a doctor. But the marriage did not last long and the space family fell apart.

(Taken from English as a Second Language Course Book, Cambridge)

However, she completed three days in space, more than the flight time of all the American astronauts put together.

The word however can be replaced with ...

• Unfortunately

• Rather than

• Nevertheless

• Even though

• Therefore

Once upon a time, there lived a father and his six sons. Their mother had passed away many years ago. The six sons could not get along with one another. They always quarrel with each other. The father tried very hard to unite them, but always failed.

Then, one day, he came up with an idea. He called all his six sons together and showed them a bundle of sticks. He asked each of them to break the bundle in turn. Each of them tried with all his strength, but none of them could even bend the bundle. Then, the father untied the bundle and separated the sticks. He gave a stick to each of his sons. “Now, try breaking it”, he said. Each of them broke his stick with ease.

The father then said, “My dear sons, if you remain united, you will be as strong as this bundle of sticks. But if you are divided among yourselves, you will be broken as easily as you have broken the stick. Remember, always stick together.”

Why did the father use the illustration of sticks?

• The father wanted his sons to realize the importance of unity.

• The father was sick and tired of the brothers’ quarrelling.

• The father wanted the brothers to go their separate ways.

• The father wanted to find out who was the strongest.

• The father wanted to impress his sons.

Once upon a time, there lived a father and his six sons. Their mother had passed away many years ago. The six sons could not get along with one another. They always quarrel with each other. The father tried very hard to unite them, but always failed.

Then, one day, he came up with an idea. He called all his six sons together and showed them a bundle of sticks. He asked each of them to break the bundle in turn. Each of them tried with all his strength, but none of them could even bend the bundle. Then, the father untied the bundle and separated the sticks. He gave a stick to each of his sons. “Now, try breaking it”, he said. Each of them broke his stick with ease.

The father then said, “My dear sons, if you remain united, you will be as strong as this bundle of sticks. But if you are divided among yourselves, you will be broken as easily as you have broken the stick. Remember, always stick together.”

What can we learn from the story?

• A bundle of sticks is very useful.

• Playing games together is fun.

• Who is the strongest.

• Unity is strength.

• Don’t be greedy.

Once upon a time, there lived a father and his six sons. Their mother had passed away many years ago. The six sons could not get along with one another. They always quarrel with each other. The father tried very hard to unite them, but always failed.

Then, one day, he came up with an idea. He called all his six sons together and showed them a bundle of sticks. He asked each of them to break the bundle in turn. Each of them tried with all his strength, but none of them could even bend the bundle. Then, the father untied the bundle and separated the sticks. He gave a stick to each of his sons. “Now, try breaking it”, he said. Each of them broke his stick with ease.

The father then said, “My dear sons, if you remain united, you will be as strong as this bundle of sticks. But if you are divided among yourselves, you will be broken as easily as you have broken the stick. Remember, always stick together.”

“you will be broken as easily as you have broken the stick (paragraph 3)

The word easily has the same meaning as?

• effortlessly

• undoubtedly

• indifferently

• hardly

• similarly

Ray or Rayfish or mostly known as

Stingray are carnivorous fish that belong to superorder of Batoidea. They are

the close relatives of the Sharks within the same group of Cartilaginous

fish. There are 26 families of rays in the world with more than 600 species

in total. Most of them live in the ocean and only a few of them live in

freshwater, brackish bays or estuaries.

Rays or sometimes called as

batoids have a large and flat body. Their body is boneless and very elastic.

Their skeleton is made of cartilage (a tough and elastic materials). Each

species of Rayfish have a different body shape. Their skeleton is located in

the middle of their body where their head and tail are inline with it. Their

eyes are located on top of the head. They have two large pectoral fins that

are fused to the head and are located on each side of the body. Some of them

look like a bird flying with two large wings when they are swimming. Their

dorsal skin also vary among species of Rayfish. Some of them are: black,

brown, pale green with blue spots, dark red with white spots, tiger skin

pattern and many more. The color of their bottom side is white. This is where

their mouth is located.

Most of

them perform an ambush to catch the prey. They usually find a good place to

hide such as sand, pebbles, coral or algae that look like their skin pattern

and then wait until an animal like squid, fish, snail or shrimp is passing

by. At this moment they will make a swift move and catch the prey. Most of

them have one or more venomous stingers on their tail to protect themselves

from any threat.

http://www.bigbanktheories.com)

Why did the writer write the text?

• To retell the life of Ray fish

• To present the facts of Ray fish

• To explain the readers about Ray fish’s habitat

• To entertain the readers by describing Ray fish

• To warn the readers that Ray fish is dangerous

Ray or Rayfish or mostly known as

Stingray are carnivorous fish that belong to superorder of Batoidea. They are

the close relatives of the Sharks within the same group of Cartilaginous

fish. There are 26 families of rays in the world with more than 600 species

in total. Most of them live in the ocean and only a few of them live in

freshwater, brackish bays or estuaries.

Rays or sometimes called as

batoids have a large and flat body. Their body is boneless and very elastic.

Their skeleton is made of cartilage (a tough and elastic materials). Each

species of Rayfish have a different body shape. Their skeleton is located in

the middle of their body where their head and tail are inline with it. Their

eyes are located on top of the head. They have two large pectoral fins that

are fused to the head and are located on each side of the body. Some of them

look like a bird flying with two large wings when they are swimming. Their

dorsal skin also vary among species of Rayfish. Some of them are: black,

brown, pale green with blue spots, dark red with white spots, tiger skin

pattern and many more. The color of their bottom side is white. This is where

their mouth is located.

Most of

them perform an ambush to catch the prey. They usually find a good place to

hide such as sand, pebbles, coral or algae that look like their skin pattern

and then wait until an animal like squid, fish, snail or shrimp is passing

by. At this moment they will make a swift move and catch the prey. Most of

them have one or more venomous stingers on their tail to protect themselves

from any threat.

http://www.bigbanktheories.com)

From the text we can conclude that....

• Their mouth is on up side

• Their eyes are on bottom side

• Their stingers are not venomous

• Their defense weapon is their tail

• They don’t attack their prey sneakingly

Ray or Rayfish or mostly known as Stingray are carnivorous fish that belong to superorder of Batoidea. They are the close relatives of the Sharks within the same group of Cartilaginous fish. There are 26 families of rays in the world with more than 600 species in total. Most of them live in the ocean and only a few of them live in freshwater, brackish bays or estuaries.

Rays or sometimes called as batoids have a large and flat body. Their body is boneless and very elastic. Their skeleton is made of cartilage (a tough and elastic materials). Each species of Rayfish have a different body shape. Their skeleton is located in the middle of their body where their head and tail are inline with it. Their eyes are located on top of the head. They have two large pectoral fins that are fused to the head and are located on each side of the body. Some of them look like a bird flying with two large wings when they are swimming. Their dorsal skin also vary among species of Rayfish. Some of them are: black, brown, pale green with blue spots, dark red with white spots, tiger skin pattern and many more. The color of their bottom side is white. This is where their mouth is located.

Most of them perform an ambush to catch the prey. They usually find a good place to hide such as sand, pebbles, coral or algae that look like their skin pattern and then wait until an animal like squid, fish, snail or shrimp is passing by. At this moment they will make a swift move and catch the prey. Most of them have one or more venomous stingers on their tail to protect themselves from any threat.

http://www.bigbanktheories.com)

How do you compare paragraphs 2 and 3?

• Paragraph 2 describes how Ray fish breed, paragraph 3 weight of Ray fish

• Paragraph 2 describes the features of Ray fish, paragraph 3 the diet of Ray fish

• Paragraph 2 describes the features of Ray fish, paragraph 3 the weight of Ray fish

• Paragraph 2 describes place of origin of Ray fish, paragraph 3 the diet of Ray fish

• Paragraph 2 describes the how Ray fish breed, paragraph 3 the diet of Ray fish