STEP Exam - Reading

Read the passage and choose the correct answer:

If you are looking for a unique trip to Europe this year, winter is a good time to go because there are a lot of spectacular festivals, from the Carnival in Venice to the Snow and Ice Sculpture festival in Belgium. People come from different countries to enjoy the happy festivals. Which one are you going to next year? Hmm, let’s see… First is Venice in Italy. It comes alive with people dressed in masks. They always walk along the canals in typical boats called gondolas. The carnival runs for two weeks every February, in the middle of winter. It is a great birthday gift for people who like to be near water and who like traditional events. Then there is a special light festival in Amsterdam in Holland for the whole month of December. There are lights all around the city and artists come from all over the world and show their work along the canals. Lots of people visit the city for one or two days so they can see everything. Don’t miss the Snow and Ice Sculpture festival in Belgium. A different city each year becomes a magical place of beautiful sculptures. Every year, you can see them every day from November to January. Last but not least, there is the dynamic Horizon Festival in a small ski resort in Andorra. There are bands playing every night, and skiing all day and night. It’s a perfect break for a family because there are different activities for everyone!

1 In which festival do people wear masks?

• The Horizon festival

• The Snow and Ice Sculpture festival

• The Amsterdam light festival

• The Venice Carnival

Read the passage and choose the correct answer:

If you are looking for a unique trip to Europe this year, winter is a good time to go because there are a lot of spectacular festivals, from the Carnival in Venice to the Snow and Ice Sculpture festival in Belgium. People come from different countries to enjoy the happy festivals. Which one are you going to next year? Hmm, let’s see… First is Venice in Italy. It comes alive with people dressed in masks. They always walk along the canals in typical boats called gondolas. The carnival runs for two weeks every February, in the middle of winter. It is a great birthday gift for people who like to be near water and who like traditional events. Then there is a special light festival in Amsterdam in Holland for the whole month of December. There are lights all around the city and artists come from all over the world and show their work along the canals. Lots of people visit the city for one or two days so they can see everything. Don’t miss the Snow and Ice Sculpture festival in Belgium. A different city each year becomes a magical place of beautiful sculptures. Every year, you can see them every day from November to January. Last but not least, there is the dynamic Horizon Festival in a small ski resort in Andorra. There are bands playing every night, and skiing all day and night. It’s a perfect break for a family because there are different activities for everyone!

2. In which festival can you see artists?

• The Horizon festival

• The Snow and Ice Sculpture festival

• The Amsterdam light festival

• The Venice Carnival

Read the passage and choose the correct answer:

If you are looking for a unique trip to Europe this year, winter is a good time to go because there are a lot of spectacular festivals, from the Carnival in Venice to the Snow and Ice Sculpture festival in Belgium. People come from different countries to enjoy the happy festivals. Which one are you going to next year? Hmm, let’s see… First is Venice in Italy. It comes alive with people dressed in masks. They always walk along the canals in typical boats called gondolas. The carnival runs for two weeks every February, in the middle of winter. It is a great birthday gift for people who like to be near water and who like traditional events. Then there is a special light festival in Amsterdam in Holland for the whole month of December. There are lights all around the city and artists come from all over the world and show their work along the canals. Lots of people visit the city for one or two days so they can see everything. Don’t miss the Snow and Ice Sculpture festival in Belgium. A different city each year becomes a magical place of beautiful sculptures. Every year, you can see them every day from November to January. Last but not least, there is the dynamic Horizon Festival in a small ski resort in Andorra. There are bands playing every night, and skiing all day and night. It’s a perfect break for a family because there are different activities for everyone!

4. Which festival moves to a different city every year?

• The Horizon festival

• The Snow and Ice Sculpture festival

• The Amsterdam light festival

• The Venice Carnival

Read the passage and choose the correct answer:

If you are looking for a unique trip to Europe this year, winter is a good time to go because there are a lot of spectacular festivals, from the Carnival in Venice to the Snow and Ice Sculpture festival in Belgium. People come from different countries to enjoy the happy festivals. Which one are you going to next year? Hmm, let’s see… First is Venice in Italy. It comes alive with people dressed in masks. They always walk along the canals in typical boats called gondolas. The carnival runs for two weeks every February, in the middle of winter. It is a great birthday gift for people who like to be near water and who like traditional events. Then there is a special light festival in Amsterdam in Holland for the whole month of December. There are lights all around the city and artists come from all over the world and show their work along the canals. Lots of people visit the city for one or two days so they can see everything. Don’t miss the Snow and Ice Sculpture festival in Belgium. A different city each year becomes a magical place of beautiful sculptures. Every year, you can see them every day from November to January. Last but not least, there is the dynamic Horizon Festival in a small ski resort in Andorra. There are bands playing every night, and skiing all day and night. It’s a perfect break for a family because there are different activities for everyone!

5. Which festival does the website say is good for a family?

• The Horizon festival

• The Snow and Ice Sculpture festival

• The Amsterdam light festival

• The Venice Carnival

Read the passage and choose the correct answer:

If you are looking for a unique trip to Europe this year, winter is a good time to go because there are a lot of spectacular festivals, from the Carnival in Venice to the Snow and Ice Sculpture festival in Belgium. People come from different countries to enjoy the happy festivals. Which one are you going to next year? Hmm, let’s see… First is Venice in Italy. It comes alive with people dressed in masks. They always walk along the canals in typical boats called gondolas. The carnival runs for two weeks every February, in the middle of winter. It is a great birthday gift for people who like to be near water and who like traditional events. Then there is a special light festival in Amsterdam in Holland for the whole month of December. There are lights all around the city and artists come from all over the world and show their work along the canals. Lots of people visit the city for one or two days so they can see everything. Don’t miss the Snow and Ice Sculpture festival in Belgium. A different city each year becomes a magical place of beautiful sculptures. Every year, you can see them every day from November to January. Last but not least, there is the dynamic Horizon Festival in a small ski resort in Andorra. There are bands playing every night, and skiing all day and night. It’s a perfect break for a family because there are different activities for everyone!

3. Which country has a light festival?

• Andorra

• Italy

• Holland

• Belgium

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35. Which method of travel does the passage talk about?

• road

• rail

• sea

• air

No matter whether you're travelling for work or pleasure, wouldn’t you value the option to tailor your journey in accordance with your personal preferences and requirements? That’s exact why we developed our Red Services: a range of highly practical extra services that you can book along with your flight, as and when you need them.

36. What does the passage give information about?

• A. valuable items

• B. booking methods

• C. personalized services

• D. product requirements

1) Piri Reis was a great commander in the Ottoman Turkish navy. He is best known, however, as the author of a famous book on navigation The Science of Ships and Sea Travel. His world maps are even more famous, and he is recognized today for his important contributions to geography

2) In 1525, he presented a copy of his book, Kitab-Al-Bahrye to Sultan Suleiman, the Turkish ruler. It gives detailed information on navigation and contains charts describing in great detail the important ports and cities of the Mediterranean Sea.

3) Although he was not an explorer like Christopher Columbus, Piri was an expert cartographer. He used a map of Columbus, as well as other older Arab, Chinese, Indian, Spanish and Greek maps, to create the most accurate map of the known world of that time. A small part of one of Piri's first world maps was discovered in 1929 at the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul. It was drawn in 1513 on gazelle skin. Copies of Piri's book and maps can be found in many libraries and museums around the world. including the Topkapi Palace, the British Museum in London, and the National Library of France in Paris.

29. What is the book of Piri Reis about?

• A. Sultan Suleiman

• B. the Turkish navy

• C. ships and sea travel

• D. libraries and museums

1) Piri Reis was a great commander in the Ottoman Turkish navy. He is best known, however, as the author of a famous book on navigation The Science of Ships and Sea Travel. His world maps are even more famous, and he is recognized today for his important contributions to geography

2) In 1525, he presented a copy of his book, Kitab-Al-Bahrye to Sultan Suleiman, the Turkish ruler. It gives detailed information on navigation and contains charts describing in great detail the important ports and cities of the Mediterranean Sea.

3) Although he was not an explorer like Christopher Columbus, Piri was an expert cartographer. He used a map of Columbus, as well as other older Arab, Chinese, Indian, Spanish and Greek maps, to create the most accurate map of the known world of that time. A small part of one of Piri's first world maps was discovered in 1929 at the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul. It was drawn in 1513 on gazelle skin. Copies of Piri's book and maps can be found in many libraries and museums around the world. including the Topkapi Palace, the British Museum in London, and the National Library of France in Paris.

30. In which fields did Piri Reis contribute to knowledge?

• A. navigation and geography

• B. geology and cartography

• C. exploration and science

• D. history and literature

1) Piri Reis was a great commander in the Ottoman Turkish navy. He is best known, however, as the author of a famous book on navigation The Science of Ships and Sea Travel. His world maps are even more famous, and he is recognized today for his important contributions to geography

2) In 1525, he presented a copy of his book, Kitab-Al-Bahrye to Sultan Suleiman, the Turkish ruler. It gives detailed information on navigation and contains charts describing in great detail the important ports and cities of the Mediterranean Sea.

3) Although he was not an explorer like Christopher Columbus, Piri was an expert cartographer. He used a map of Columbus, as well as other older Arab, Chinese, Indian, Spanish and Greek maps, to create the most accurate map of the known world of that time. A small part of one of Piri's first world maps was discovered in 1929 at the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul. It was drawn in 1513 on gazelle skin. Copies of Piri's book and maps can be found in many libraries and museums around the world. including the Topkapi Palace, the British Museum in London, and the National Library of France in Paris.

31. When did Piri Reis give a copy of Kitab-Al- Bahriye to Sultan Suleiman?

• A. 1513

• B. 1525

• C. 1531

• D. 1552