Which quantifier implies the idea of two items, elements, or people considered together?

What does the quantifier "all" indicate when used in a sentence?

Which of the following quantifiers emphasizes a small number or amount?

Which of the following quantifiers is used to indicate a large number of items, more than just a few?

When do we use the definite article "the"?

When do we use the indefinite article "a" or "an"?

Which article is used with uncountable nouns to make them countable?

Which sentence is correct?

In the phrase "I am going to write ____ essay about climate change," which article should be used before the word "essay"?

Which article should be used before the word "hour" in the following sentence: "It takes me about ___ hour to get to work by bus."

Read the following passage and answer the question: In recent years, job interviews have taken a quirky turn, with some companies opting for unconventional questions that go beyond the traditional queries about strengths and weaknesses. These offbeat questions aim to assess a candidate's creativity, problem-solving skills, and ability to think on their feet.

Imagine being asked, "If you were a superhero, what power would you have and how would you use it in the workplace?" or "If you were stranded on a deserted island, which three items would you want to have with you, and why?" These questions may seem unrelated to the job at hand, but employers argue that they reveal valuable insights into a candidate's personality and mindset.

Based on the text, why do some companies use unconventional interview questions?

Read the following passage and answer the question: In recent years, job interviews have taken a quirky turn, with some companies opting for unconventional questions that go beyond the traditional queries about strengths and weaknesses. These offbeat questions aim to assess a candidate's creativity, problem-solving skills, and ability to think on their feet.

Imagine being asked, "If you were a superhero, what power would you have and how would you use it in the workplace?" or "If you were stranded on a deserted island, which three items would you want to have with you, and why?" These questions may seem unrelated to the job at hand, but employers argue that they reveal valuable insights into a candidate's personality and mindset.

Provide an example of an unconventional job interview question mentioned in the text.

Read the following passage and answer the question: “The mystery of the Flannan Islands lighthouse keepers one greatest puzzles in history, a case that has baffled real and amateur detectives for more than a century. The Flannan Islands are seven uninhabited rocks that rise out of the sea. They form part of the Outer Hebrides, a chain of remote islands off the west coast of Scotland. For centuries, they were a danger for ships, so in 1899, a 75-foot lighthouse was built on the largest of the islands, and three lighthouse keepers were employed. On 26th December 1900, a steamship sailed to the island carrying three new lighthouse keepers, to relieve the men who had spent three months alone in the Atlantic. But when they arrived at the lighthouse, they made an extraordinary discovery there was nobody there! The lighthouse door was unlocked, and inside, everything was tidy, but one of the chairs was knocked over. One rain jacket was hanging on its hook, but the other two had disappeared. The clocks had stopped. The last entry in the log book was 9 a.m. on 15th December. But of the three keepers, Ducat, Marshall, and MacArthur, there was not a trace. When the news of the keepers' disappearance reached the mainland, there was a huge amount of media speculation. Some suggested that the men had argued about a woman, and that one had murdered the other two before throwing himself into the sea. Others wondered whether perhaps they had been kidnapped by German agents who were planning an invasion of Britain, using submarines. Some thought they might have been carried away by a sea serpent, or a giant sea bird, or even by a boat full of ghosts. An Edinburgh policeman, Robert Muirhead, was sent to the island to solve the mystery.”

In the context of the passage, what does the word "speculation" mean?

Read the following passage and answer the question: “The mystery of the Flannan Islands lighthouse keepers one greatest puzzles in history, a case that has baffled real and amateur detectives for more than a century. The Flannan Islands are seven uninhabited rocks that rise out of the sea. They form part of the Outer Hebrides, a chain of remote islands off the west coast of Scotland. For centuries, they were a danger for ships, so in 1899, a 75-foot lighthouse was built on the largest of the islands, and three lighthouse keepers were employed. On 26th December 1900, a steamship sailed to the island carrying three new lighthouse keepers, to relieve the men who had spent three months alone in the Atlantic. But when they arrived at the lighthouse, they made an extraordinary discovery there was nobody there! The lighthouse door was unlocked, and inside, everything was tidy, but one of the chairs was knocked over. One rain jacket was hanging on its hook, but the other two had disappeared. The clocks had stopped. The last entry in the log book was 9 a.m. on 15th December. But of the three keepers, Ducat, Marshall, and MacArthur, there was not a trace. When the news of the keepers' disappearance reached the mainland, there was a huge amount of media speculation. Some suggested that the men had argued about a woman, and that one had murdered the other two before throwing himself into the sea. Others wondered whether perhaps they had been kidnapped by German agents who were planning an invasion of Britain, using submarines. Some thought they might have been carried away by a sea serpent, or a giant sea bird, or even by a boat full of ghosts. An Edinburgh policeman, Robert Muirhead, was sent to the island to solve the mystery.”

According to the passage, what event triggered the need for a lighthouse on the Flannan Islands?

Read the following passage and answer the question: A few weeks ago, I was feeling under the weather. After days of intensive internet diagnosis, I finally went to see my doctor. After examining me, she told me that my heart rate was a bit fast and sent me off to the hospital for some tests. Did I go straight there? Of course not. First, I took out my phone, logged on to Google, and found out that the technical term for a fast heart rate is supraventricular tachycardia. Then I typed these two words into Google. Sadly, the problem with Dr Google is that he isn’t exactly a comfort in times of crisis. One website immediately scared me with a list of 407 possible causes.

I raced to the hospital, convinced that I probably needed open- heart surgery. Four hours later, I got a diagnosis. I had a chest infection...and a bad case of cyberchondria. The only consolation for the latter condition is that I’m in good company. A Microsoft survey of one million internet users last year found that 2% of all searches - a not-insignificant number - were health-related.

Unfortunately, once you have it, cyberchondria can be hard to cure. Since my trip to hospital, I have been obsessively checking my pulse, swapping symptoms in chat rooms, and reading all about worst-case scenarios. What if the doctors got it wrong? What if the ECG machine was faulty? It’s exhausting trying to convince yourself that you might have a life-threatening illness.

What led the author to visit the hospital for tests?

Read the following passage and answer the question: The Microsoft study also revealed another serious problem - that online information often doesn’t discriminate between common and very rare conditions. One in four of all articles thrown up by an internet search for headache suggested a brain tumour as a possible cause. Although it is true that this may be the cause, in fact, brain tumours develop in fewer than one in 50,000 people. People also assume that the first answers that come up in searches refer to the most common causes, so if you type in mouth ulcer and see that mouth cancer has several mentions near the top, you think that it must be very common. However, this is not the case at all.

Another problem for cyberchondriacs is that online medical information may be from an unreliable source, or out of date. A recent American study showed that 75% of the people who use the internet to look up information about their health do not check where that information came from, or the date it was created. ‘Once something has been put up on the internet, even if it’s wrong, it’s difficult to remove,’ says Sarah Jarvis, a doctor. ‘This is a problem, especially with scare stories, and also with some alternative remedies which claim to be miracle cures, but which may actually do you harm.’ Check the information? Sorry, I don’t have time - I’m off to buy a heart-rate monitor!

In the context of the passage, what does the term "cyberchondriacs" refer to?

Read the following passage and answer the question: I met Sian at an event where we were both speakers, and we just clicked. I could see she was just a great person and cleverer than most. She was a glamorous, lively woman, who talked about being an entrepreneur and her love for her father. She started inviting me to different places. I went to the races with her - not the sort of thing I normally do. She brought fun back into my life when I was working hard to run a charity. The new experiences we share help to keep me alive. When I was ill last Christmas, she really rescued me. She came in like a hurricane, with decorations, firewood, and champagne. I was feeling sad and afraid, and she told me that wasn’t allowed.

What initially brought the speaker and Sian together?

Read the following passage and answer the question: I met Dilys in Cardiff, where we both live, at an event called Superwoman. We were both invited to speak and were at the same table. Dilys did a lot of charity work with disabled people, as well as being the world’s oldest female solo skydiver. I was there to talk about my media marketing company. We hit it off; I thought she was amazing and the way I want to be as I grow older.

We love to sit with a takeaway and listen to Mozart. We like films and the theatre. She has a huge amount of energy and can dance for longer than me. She even persuaded me to do a skydive, despite my fear of heights. When we’re in a cab, taxi drivers ask how we met, but we never think of our age gap. She advises me on my love life, work, and how to be a better person.

Based on the information in the passage, how did the author feel about Dilys when they first met?

Read the following passage and answer the question: Britain’s largest budget airline has refuted claims that passengers on a delayed flight from Malaga to Bristol were asked to vote on whether they would accept takeoff with only one engine operational. Flight EZY6058 from Malaga, initially scheduled for takeoff shortly before midnight on Thursday, June 8th, experienced delays due to plane issues. The 150 passengers had endured a 36-hour wait in Malaga hotels before finally re-boarding the Airbus. On Saturday afternoon, they left their hotels and proceeded to board the plane. While inside and awaiting takeoff, the easyJet pilot informed them of an ongoing issue with one of the engines. At this point, frustrated and angered, he inquired if the passengers preferred to disembark or stay on board while he attempted to start the engines. Contrary to reports by the Daily Mail, the pilot did not inform passengers of a high likelihood of flying with only one operational engine and did not ask them to decide whether to stay on the plane or disembark. A spokesperson for easyJet clarified later, stating, "The pilot did not ask the passengers to vote. We would never consider flying the aircraft without both engines operating correctly."

In the context of the passage, what does the word "disembark" mean?

Read the following passage and answer the question: Britain’s largest budget airline has refuted claims that passengers on a delayed flight from Malaga to Bristol were asked to vote on whether they would accept takeoff with only one engine operational. Flight EZY6058 from Malaga, initially scheduled for takeoff shortly before midnight on Thursday, June 8th, experienced delays due to plane issues. The 150 passengers had endured a 36-hour wait in Malaga hotels before finally re-boarding the Airbus. On Saturday afternoon, they left their hotels and proceeded to board the plane. While inside and awaiting takeoff, the easyJet pilot informed them of an ongoing issue with one of the engines. At this point, frustrated and angered, he inquired if the passengers preferred to disembark or stay on board while he attempted to start the engines. Contrary to reports by the Daily Mail, the pilot did not inform passengers of a high likelihood of flying with only one operational engine and did not ask them to decide whether to stay on the plane or disembark. A spokesperson for easyJet clarified later, stating, "The pilot did not ask the passengers to vote. We would never consider flying the aircraft without both engines operating correctly."

How long did the passengers endure a wait in Malaga hotels before re-boarding the Airbus?

Read the following passage and answer the question: Mathilde now learned the terrible life of the really poor. Heroically, she made the best of it. The debt must be paid. She would pay it. They dismissed their servant; they left their house and rented a small attic under the roof.

She learned how to do housework, and how to cook. She washed the dishes, wearing out her pink nails on the greasy pots and the bottoms of the pans. She washed their dirty sheets and clothes. She took their rubbish down to the street every morning, and she carried up the water, pausing for breath on every floor. Wearing old, worn-out clothes, she went out to the greengrocer, the grocer, the butcher, with a basket on her arm, bargaining, insulted, fighting to save a sou here or there.

Every month, they had to pay back part of the money they had borrowed. Her husband worked in the evening, doing the accounts for a shopkeeper, and at night, often, he did copying at five sous the page.

This life lasted ten years. At the end of ten years, they had paid everything back, everything, with all the accumulation of interest.

With her badly combed hair, and her red hands, Mathilde now looked like an old woman. But sometimes, when her husband was at the office, she sat down by the window, and she thought of that evening long ago, of that party, where she had been so beautiful and so admired.

What would have happened if she had not lost that necklace? Who knows? Who knows?

What drastic change occurred in Mathilde's life after the loss of the necklace?

Read the following passage and answer the question: Mathilde now learned the terrible life of the really poor. Heroically, she made the best of it. The debt must be paid. She would pay it. They dismissed their servant; they left their house and rented a small attic under the roof.

She learned how to do housework, and how to cook. She washed the dishes, wearing out her pink nails on the greasy pots and the bottoms of the pans. She washed their dirty sheets and clothes. She took their rubbish down to the street every morning, and she carried up the water, pausing for breath on every floor. Wearing old, worn-out clothes, she went out to the greengrocer, the grocer, the butcher, with a basket on her arm, bargaining, insulted, fighting to save a sou here or there.

Every month, they had to pay back part of the money they had borrowed. Her husband worked in the evening, doing the accounts for a shopkeeper, and at night, often, he did copying at five sous the page.

This life lasted ten years. At the end of ten years, they had paid everything back, everything, with all the accumulation of interest.

With her badly combed hair, and her red hands, Mathilde now looked like an old woman. But sometimes, when her husband was at the office, she sat down by the window, and she thought of that evening long ago, of that party, where she had been so beautiful and so admired.

What would have happened if she had not lost that necklace? Who knows? Who knows?

Why does Mathilde sometimes sit by the window and think about the past?

Read the following passage and answer the question: We don't have major hurricanes or wildfires, but you can see that the weather patterns have been changing. For example, the winters are much milder than they used to be 20 years ago, and in the summers, we often have a huge heatwave. We used to have a special name for a period that is between winter and spring: we call it przedwicsnie, and now it doesn't really happen. So for me, this is one of the most significant examples of the changes in climate.

What is the author's main point in discussing the weather patterns?

Read the following passage and answer the question: We don't have major hurricanes or wildfires, but you can see that the weather patterns have been changing. For example, the winters are much milder than they used to be 20 years ago, and in the summers, we often have a huge heatwave. We used to have a special name for a period that is between winter and spring: we call it przedwicsnie, and now it doesn't really happen. So for me, this is one of the most significant examples of the changes in climate.

In the context of the passage, what does the word "przedwicsnie" refer to?

Read the following passage and answer the question: Two men leap from the top of the mountain and spread their wings to fly down one of the most dangerous routes in one of the world’s most dangerous sports. Dario Zanon and Graham Dickinson are experts at wingsuit flying. Using pieces of cloth that join their arms and legs, they fly past cliff edges and between trees at over 110 mph. Then they release their parachutes and drift down to land. This video has been watched over ten million times on social media.

A few months later, Zanon returned to Chamonix and climbed the Aiguille du Midi on the other side of the valley, for a solo flight. On the Sunday, his body was found on the glaciers 5,000 feet below. He was 33. Most likely no one will ever know exactly which small thing went wrong. Small things become big quickly at 110 mph. It does happen to the best. Mark Sutton, the man who parachuted into the London Olympics stadium dressed as James Bond, was killed wingsuit flying in the Swiss Alps, while filming for EpicTV.

Dean Potter, a famous US wingsuit flyer, died with his friend Graham Hunt. They had jumped from Taft Point in California.

According to the passage, how did Dario Zanon meet his unfortunate fate?

Read the following passage and answer the question: Two men leap from the top of the mountain and spread their wings to fly down one of the most dangerous routes in one of the world’s most dangerous sports. Dario Zanon and Graham Dickinson are experts at wingsuit flying. Using pieces of cloth that join their arms and legs, they fly past cliff edges and between trees at over 110 mph. Then they release their parachutes and drift down to land. This video has been watched over ten million times on social media.

A few months later, Zanon returned to Chamonix and climbed the Aiguille du Midi on the other side of the valley, for a solo flight. On the Sunday, his body was found on the glaciers 5,000 feet below. He was 33. Most likely no one will ever know exactly which small thing went wrong. Small things become big quickly at 110 mph. It does happen to the best. Mark Sutton, the man who parachuted into the London Olympics stadium dressed as James Bond, was killed wingsuit flying in the Swiss Alps, while filming for EpicTV.

Dean Potter, a famous US wingsuit flyer, died with his friend Graham Hunt. They had jumped from Taft Point in California.

How does the fate of Mark Sutton differ from that of Dario Zanon?

Read the following passage and answer the question: Yossi and Kevin soon realized that going by river was a big mistake. The river got faster and faster, and soon they were in rapids.

The raft was swept down the river at an incredible speed until it hit a rock. Both men were thrown into the water. Kevin was a strong swimmer and he managed to swim to land, but Yossi was swept away by the rapids.

But Yossi didn’t drown. He was carried several kilometres downriver by the rapids, but he eventually managed to swim to the riverbank. He was totally exhausted. By an incredible piece of luck, he found their backpack floating in the river. The backpack contained a little food, insect repellent, a lighter, and most important of all…the map. But the two friends were now separated by a canyon and six or seven kilometres of jungle.

What event made Yossi and Kevin realize that going by the river was a mistake?

Read the following passage and answer the question: Yossi and Kevin soon realized that going by river was a big mistake. The river got faster and faster, and soon they were in rapids.

The raft was swept down the river at an incredible speed until it hit a rock. Both men were thrown into the water. Kevin was a strong swimmer and he managed to swim to land, but Yossi was swept away by the rapids.

But Yossi didn’t drown. He was carried several kilometres downriver by the rapids, but he eventually managed to swim to the riverbank. He was totally exhausted. By an incredible piece of luck, he found their backpack floating in the river. The backpack contained a little food, insect repellent, a lighter, and most important of all…the map. But the two friends were now separated by a canyon and six or seven kilometres of jungle.

In the context of the passage, what does the word "exhausted" mean?

Read the following passage and answer the question: Recently, I helped my son move into his first-year room at a university in Chicago and we discussed his hopes and plans for the next three years. That evening, I found myself thinking about how to help him make decisions he would never regret. I went to Twitter and typed, ‘What is your biggest regret?’ The response was huge and devastatingly honest. I had asked a question that, surprisingly, a lot of people really wanted to answer. I loved the light-hearted responses...

‘Not flying on Concorde to New York with Lionel Richie. He wanted to take me for dinner. I was working. #idiot’

But very few of them were like that. What emerged is that real regrets are not about bad things happening to you. They are about bad choices - a deep sorrow, or anger at yourself for something you did, or something you failed to do.

Most of the replies are divided into different categories. Education was high on the list - there were many more regrets to do with school and college than 1 had expected.

‘Never going to university. Left me disadvantaged all my life. Never lived up to my potential.’

What prompted the author to ask the question, "What is your biggest regret?" on Twitter?

Read the following passage and answer the question: Recently, I helped my son move into his first-year room at a university in Chicago and we discussed his hopes and plans for the next three years. That evening, I found myself thinking about how to help him make decisions he would never regret. I went to Twitter and typed, ‘What is your biggest regret?’ The response was huge and devastatingly honest. I had asked a question that, surprisingly, a lot of people really wanted to answer. I loved the light-hearted responses...

‘Not flying on Concorde to New York with Lionel Richie. He wanted to take me for dinner. I was working. #idiot’

But very few of them were like that. What emerged is that real regrets are not about bad things happening to you. They are about bad choices - a deep sorrow, or anger at yourself for something you did, or something you failed to do.

Most of the replies are divided into different categories. Education was high on the list - there were many more regrets to do with school and college than 1 had expected.

‘Never going to university. Left me disadvantaged all my life. Never lived up to my potential.’

What surprised the author about the responses to the question on Twitter?

Read the following passage and answer the question: Sleeping for eight hours a night without waking up is not natural human behavior. For centuries, segmented sleep’ was standard. People used to go to bed quite early, sleep for a few hours, wake for an hour or two around midnight, and then sleep for about another three or four hours until sunrise.

This time when people were awake was called the “watch”, and it was used for all sorts of activities. It was a chance to meditate and think about vivid dreams. More active people used the hour to visit sick family members, do housework, or even steal from the neighbors under the cover of darkness! It was an hour typically free from social demands. One 15th-century Italian woman wrote that it was a time when she was able to sew or write letters in privacy when she was not ‘surrounded by men, performing jobs for men’. Doctors also believed in the medical benefits that came from changing sleeping positions or taking medication during the “watch”. 'The practice of ' first sleep’ and ‘second sleep' is mentioned by many great authors, including Homer, Chaucer, Austen, Dickens, and Tolstoy.

Since we’ve gotten used to artificial light, however, segmented sleep has become both unfashionable and harder to achieve. We’ve now lost that hour between sleep, a time when we can be awake and alone with our thoughts. Segmented sleep is arguably more natural than the sleep we experience nowadays. People who regularly wake in the night will no doubt be relieved to hear that there’s nothing wrong with them.

What was the period of wakefulness during the night referred to as in the passage?

Read the following passage and answer the question: Sleeping for eight hours a night without waking up is not natural human behavior. For centuries, segmented sleep’ was standard. People used to go to bed quite early, sleep for a few hours, wake for an hour or two around midnight, and then sleep for about another three or four hours until sunrise.

This time when people were awake was called the “watch”, and it was used for all sorts of activities. It was a chance to meditate and think about vivid dreams. More active people used the hour to visit sick family members, do housework, or even steal from the neighbors under the cover of darkness! It was an hour typically free from social demands. One 15th-century Italian woman wrote that it was a time when she was able to sew or write letters in privacy when she was not ‘surrounded by men, performing jobs for men’. Doctors also believed in the medical benefits that came from changing sleeping positions or taking medication during the “watch”. 'The practice of ' first sleep’ and ‘second sleep' is mentioned by many great authors, including Homer, Chaucer, Austen, Dickens, and Tolstoy.

Since we’ve gotten used to artificial light, however, segmented sleep has become both unfashionable and harder to achieve. We’ve now lost that hour between sleep, a time when we can be awake and alone with our thoughts. Segmented sleep is arguably more natural than the sleep we experience nowadays. People who regularly wake in the night will no doubt be relieved to hear that there’s nothing wrong with them.

Based on the passage, what were some activities people engaged in during the period of wakefulness at night?

Read the following passage and answer the question: If I play cool music, it puts me in a better mood and I perform better. You want something that will get you in the right frame of mind, but what you pick depends on the length and the complexity of the operation – I try to have some crowd-pleasers, some easy listening, some singalong tracks. Last week, I started a big, three-hour operation at 4 p.m., and the team was supposed to finish work at 5 p.m. But I had a playlist, and afterwards everyone told me they were having fun, so they didn’t mind staying late.

According to the author, what are the three types of music they include in their playlist?

Read the following passage and answer the question: If I play cool music, it puts me in a better mood and I perform better. You want something that will get you in the right frame of mind, but what you pick depends on the length and the complexity of the operation – I try to have some crowd-pleasers, some easy listening, some singalong tracks. Last week, I started a big, three-hour operation at 4 p.m., and the team was supposed to finish work at 5 p.m. But I had a playlist, and afterwards everyone told me they were having fun, so they didn’t mind staying late.

In the context of the passage, what does the word "crowd-pleasers" most likely mean?

Read the following passage and answer the question: In life, we sometimes have disagreements with people. It could be with your partner, with your boss, with your parents, or with a friend. When this happens, the important thing is to try not to let a difference of opinion turn into a heated argument. But of course, it’s easier said than done.

The first thing I would say is that the way you begin the conversation is very important.

Imagine you live with your partner, and you’re feeling annoyed because you feel that you always do most of the housework. If you say, 'Look, you’re not doing your share of the housework,’ you’re beginning the conversation in a very negative way, and the discussion will very soon turn into an argument. It’s much more constructive to say something like, ‘I think we’d better have another look at how we divide up the housework. Maybe there’s a better way of doing it.’

What is the primary advice given about handling disagreements in the passage?

Read the following passage and answer the question: In life, we sometimes have disagreements with people. It could be with your partner, with your boss, with your parents, or with a friend. When this happens, the important thing is to try not to let a difference of opinion turn into a heated argument. But of course, it’s easier said than done.

The first thing I would say is that the way you begin the conversation is very important.

Imagine you live with your partner, and you’re feeling annoyed because you feel that you always do most of the housework. If you say, 'Look, you’re not doing your share of the housework,’ you’re beginning the conversation in a very negative way, and the discussion will very soon turn into an argument. It’s much more constructive to say something like, ‘I think we’d better have another look at how we divide up the housework. Maybe there’s a better way of doing it.’

In the context of the passage, what does the term "constructive" mean?

Read the following passage and answer the question: In life, we sometimes have disagreements with people. It could be with your partner, with your boss, with your parents, or with a friend. When this happens, the important thing is to try not to let a difference of opinion turn into a heated argument. But of course, it’s easier said than done.

The first thing I would say is that the way you begin the conversation is very important.

Imagine you live with your partner, and you’re feeling annoyed because you feel that you always do most of the housework. If you say, 'Look, you’re not doing your share of the housework,’ you’re beginning the conversation in a very negative way, and the discussion will very soon turn into an argument. It’s much more constructive to say something like, ‘I think we’d better have another look at how we divide up the housework. Maybe there’s a better way of doing it.’

According to the passage, what scenario is presented as an example of a potential disagreement?

Read the following passage and answer the question: Being an actor means having a lot of ‘waiting time’, for example, when your off set during a film, not on stage in a play, or between jobs. One way to carry on practising and improving is to do some exercises and games which will develop your acting skills. Some of these can be done by yourself, but many are more fun in groups. Most of these techniques, acting games, and exercises were created by drama teachers, and are used in drama schools. They can also benefit you in everyday life, especially with communication skills.

Exercise 1 Developing your imagination. This exercise is aimed at developing your imagination, which is one of the most important components of an actor's success. In order for the audience to believe your acting, it's you who has to believe first that the life of your character is real. And to do that, you need to be able to build a small world of your character's life in your mind. Even just for one scene, you have to come up with answers for why you are doing what you are doing, why it is that way, etc.

The exercise is best done in a group. Look at an image of a person showing an emotion, e.g., smiling. Then between you, try to think of all the possible reasons why the person might be smiling, for example, he looks as if he might be remembering a funny film, or he might have just booked a holiday abroad.

Read following passage and answer the question: What is the main purpose of the exercises and games mentioned in the passage?

Read the following passage and answer the question: Being an actor means having a lot of ‘waiting time’, for example, when your off set during a film, not on stage in a play, or between jobs. One way to carry on practising and improving is to do some exercises and games which will develop your acting skills. Some of these can be done by yourself, but many are more fun in groups. Most of these techniques, acting games, and exercises were created by drama teachers, and are used in drama schools. They can also benefit you in everyday life, especially with communication skills.

Exercise 1 Developing your imagination. This exercise is aimed at developing your imagination, which is one of the most important components of an actor's success. In order for the audience to believe your acting, it's you who has to believe first that the life of your character is real. And to do that, you need to be able to build a small world of your character's life in your mind. Even just for one scene, you have to come up with answers for why you are doing what you are doing, why it is that way, etc.

The exercise is best done in a group. Look at an image of a person showing an emotion, e.g., smiling. Then between you, try to think of all the possible reasons why the person might be smiling, for example, he looks as if he might be remembering a funny film, or he might have just booked a holiday abroad.

Based on the passage, what is emphasized as one of the most important components of an actor's success?

Read the following passage and answer the question: I sighed when I glanced at the email on my phone. It was from a woman called Constance, a complete stranger to me, who 1 was under the impression that we'd been in a relationship for several months.

It has become an all-too-familiar story. Over the past two years, my photos have been used to con 11 women on dating websites. These are just the ones I know about; the real number could be much higher.

I rang Constance and listened as she explained she'd met a man called Martin Peterson on Elite Singles. He said he was Danish and a widower. Constance had joined the website hoping to find love, after losing her husband three years earlier, and Martin had seemed kind and understanding. He was interested in everything about her, texting her every morning and ringing her for cozy chats in the evening. But on his dating profile were several photos, which were in fact, of me! She forwarded me the pictures, and I shuddered when I saw one of me and my sister, who Martin had said was his dead wife.

According to the author, how many women have been deceived using the author's photos on dating websites?

Read the following passage and answer the question: I sighed when I glanced at the email on my phone. It was from a woman called Constance, a complete stranger to me, who 1 was under the impression that we'd been in a relationship for several months.

It has become an all-too-familiar story. Over the past two years, my photos have been used to con 11 women on dating websites. These are just the ones I know about; the real number could be much higher.

I rang Constance and listened as she explained she'd met a man called Martin Peterson on Elite Singles. He said he was Danish and a widower. Constance had joined the website hoping to find love, after losing her husband three years earlier, and Martin had seemed kind and understanding. He was interested in everything about her, texting her every morning and ringing her for cozy chats in the evening. But on his dating profile were several photos, which were in fact, of me! She forwarded me the pictures, and I shuddered when I saw one of me and my sister, who Martin had said was his dead wife.

Why did Constance join the dating website Elite Singles?

Read the following passage and answer the question: CYCLISTS have begun to complain that their enjoyment of the Tour has been spoiled by periods of intense uphill cycling. British cyclist Chris Froome said, ‘Even though it’s called the Tour de France, I don’t feel like I’m getting to experience the real France at all. The organizers have planned a route that goes right through some of the hilliest parts of the country, when there are much quicker flat roads we could use. I was hoping we could stop off at a vineyard, or have lunch at an authentic local brasserie, but we’re just on our bikes all day. I spent six months doing night courses in French and have barely been able to speak a word, because I pass every French person, I meet at 30 mph.’

In the context of the passage, what does the word "brasserie" refer to?

Read the following passage and answer the question: CYCLISTS have begun to complain that their enjoyment of the Tour has been spoiled by periods of intense uphill cycling. British cyclist Chris Froome said, ‘Even though it’s called the Tour de France, I don’t feel like I’m getting to experience the real France at all. The organizers have planned a route that goes right through some of the hilliest parts of the country, when there are much quicker flat roads we could use. I was hoping we could stop off at a vineyard, or have lunch at an authentic local brasserie, but we’re just on our bikes all day. I spent six months doing night courses in French and have barely been able to speak a word, because I pass every French person, I meet at 30 mph.’

According to Chris Froome, what is the impact of the Tour de France route on his ability to communicate in French?

Read the following passage and answer the question: In 1894, a book was written by a man who had a vision. The book argues that our present system of competition’ breeds ‘extravagance, poverty, and crime’. It advocates a new system of 'equality, virtue, and happiness', in which just one corporation - the United Company - will make all of life’s necessities as cost-effectively as possible. These, by the way, are ‘food, clothing, and habitation’. Industries that ‘do not contribute’ to life’s necessities will be destroyed. The book’s author had a vision that ended up shaping the economy. But, as you may have guessed, it wasn’t this particular vision. No, it was another idea, which he had a year later. His name was King Camp Gillette, and he invented the disposable razor blade.

What does the book written by King Camp Gillette in 1894 argue about the present system?

Read the following passage and answer the question: In 1894, a book was written by a man who had a vision. The book argues that our present system of competition’ breeds ‘extravagance, poverty, and crime’. It advocates a new system of 'equality, virtue, and happiness', in which just one corporation - the United Company - will make all of life’s necessities as cost-effectively as possible. These, by the way, are ‘food, clothing, and habitation’. Industries that ‘do not contribute’ to life’s necessities will be destroyed. The book’s author had a vision that ended up shaping the economy. But, as you may have guessed, it wasn’t this particular vision. No, it was another idea, which he had a year later. His name was King Camp Gillette, and he invented the disposable razor blade.

In the context of the passage, what does the word "extravagance" mean?

Read the following passage and answer the question: ‘Is there an art of making attractive cities’? Alain de Botton, writer and founder of alternative education group 1be School of Life, seems to think so, and has made a video that he claims explains just how to do it. ‘It’s not a mystery why we like some cities so much better than others,’ he says. ‘There are six fundamental things a city needs to get right.'

Order and variety. A love of order is one of the reasons people love Paris and New York, but we must avoid too much of it. The key is to create an organized complexity'. De Botton gives the example of the square in Tele, Czech Republic, where the individual houses are different in colour and detail, but all the buildings are the same height and width.

Visible life. Streets need to be full of people and activity in order to be beautiful instead of bleak. Sadly, modern cities often contain too many characterless office blocks and industrial zones where there is no street life.

What does Alain de Botton claim about the attractiveness of cities in the video?

Read the following passage and answer the question: ‘Is there an art of making attractive cities’? Alain de Botton, writer and founder of alternative education group 1be School of Life, seems to think so, and has made a video that he claims explains just how to do it. ‘It’s not a mystery why we like some cities so much better than others,’ he says. ‘There are six fundamental things a city needs to get right.'

Order and variety. A love of order is one of the reasons people love Paris and New York, but we must avoid too much of it. The key is to create an organized complexity'. De Botton gives the example of the square in Tele, Czech Republic, where the individual houses are different in colour and detail, but all the buildings are the same height and width.

Visible life. Streets need to be full of people and activity in order to be beautiful instead of bleak. Sadly, modern cities often contain too many characterless office blocks and industrial zones where there is no street life.

In the context of the passage, what does "characterless" mean?

Read the following passage and answer the question: Three years ago, 35-year-old English teacher Lee Mi-Jung moved with her husband from the small coastal city of Pohang across the South Korean peninsula to Songdo. Described as the world’s ‘smartest city’, it was planned as a showpiece of 21st-century urban design, promising an efficient rubbish system, an abundance of parks, and a vibrant international community - all the 1 perks of megacity Seoul without the capital city’s crowded pavements, choking traffic, and air pollution. The city claimed to do ‘nothing less than banish the problems created by modern urban life.’ And for foreign corporations looking for access to Asian economies, Songdo would be a glitzy business capital to rival Hong Kong and Shanghai. ‘I’d imagined this would be a well-designed city, that it would be new, modernized, and simple -unlike other cities,’ says Lee. ‘So my expectations were high.’

What was the main reason Lee Mi-Jung and her husband moved from Pohang to Songdo three years ago?

Read the following passage and answer the question: Three years ago, 35-year-old English teacher Lee Mi-Jung moved with her husband from the small coastal city of Pohang across the South Korean peninsula to Songdo. Described as the world’s ‘smartest city’, it was planned as a showpiece of 21st-century urban design, promising an efficient rubbish system, an abundance of parks, and a vibrant international community - all the 1 perks of megacity Seoul without the capital city’s crowded pavements, choking traffic, and air pollution. The city claimed to do ‘nothing less than banish the problems created by modern urban life.’ And for foreign corporations looking for access to Asian economies, Songdo would be a glitzy business capital to rival Hong Kong and Shanghai. ‘I’d imagined this would be a well-designed city, that it would be new, modernized, and simple -unlike other cities,’ says Lee. ‘So my expectations were high.’

According to the passage, what were the promises made about Songdo's urban design?

Read the following passage and answer the question: Three years ago, 35-year-old English teacher Lee Mi-Jung moved with her husband from the small coastal city of Pohang across the South Korean peninsula to Songdo. Described as the world’s ‘smartest city’, it was planned as a showpiece of 21st-century urban design, promising an efficient rubbish system, an abundance of parks, and a vibrant international community - all the 1 perks of megacity Seoul without the capital city’s crowded pavements, choking traffic, and air pollution. The city claimed to do ‘nothing less than banish the problems created by modern urban life.’ And for foreign corporations looking for access to Asian economies, Songdo would be a glitzy business capital to rival Hong Kong and Shanghai. ‘I’d imagined this would be a well-designed city, that it would be new, modernized, and simple -unlike other cities,’ says Lee. ‘So my expectations were high.’

In the context of the passage, what does the term "megacity" mean?

Read the following passage and answer the question: Three years ago, 35-year-old English teacher Lee Mi-Jung moved with her husband from the small coastal city of Pohang across the South Korean peninsula to Songdo. Described as the world’s ‘smartest city’, it was planned as a showpiece of 21st-century urban design, promising an efficient rubbish system, an abundance of parks, and a vibrant international community - all the 1 perks of megacity Seoul without the capital city’s crowded pavements, choking traffic, and air pollution. The city claimed to do ‘nothing less than banish the problems created by modern urban life.’ And for foreign corporations looking for access to Asian economies, Songdo would be a glitzy business capital to rival Hong Kong and Shanghai. ‘I’d imagined this would be a well-designed city, that it would be new, modernized, and simple -unlike other cities,’ says Lee. ‘So my expectations were high.’

Based on Lee Mi-Jung's expectations, what did she envision about Songdo before moving?

Read the following passage and answer the question: Just how plausible are the ideas we hear about in science-fiction? LiveScience examines some popular concepts.

Aliens that look like us. Many fictional aliens have a human-type body. But how likely is it that intelligent alien life would develop a body shape similar to ours? It seems unlikely that organisms evolving for millions of years in another world would fit comfortably into our clothes. But the evolutionary circumstances on alien planets may have been similar to those that led humans to develop arms and legs, and fingers to manipulate tools. Some scientists say that our two-legged, symmetrical body shape could be the 'optimal design for an intelligent being'. Perhaps there is no other choice than for intelligent aliens to look like humans.

Based on the information in the passage, what might be a reason some scientists believe in the plausibility of aliens resembling humans?

Read the following passage and answer the question: Just how plausible are the ideas we hear about in science-fiction? LiveScience examines some popular concepts.

Aliens that look like us. Many fictional aliens have a human-type body. But how likely is it that intelligent alien life would develop a body shape similar to ours? It seems unlikely that organisms evolving for millions of years in another world would fit comfortably into our clothes. But the evolutionary circumstances on alien planets may have been similar to those that led humans to develop arms and legs, and fingers to manipulate tools. Some scientists say that our two-legged, symmetrical body shape could be the 'optimal design for an intelligent being'. Perhaps there is no other choice than for intelligent aliens to look like humans.

What is the main focus of the passage?

Read the following passage and answer the question: Just how plausible are the ideas we hear about in science-fiction? LiveScience examines some popular concepts.

Aliens that look like us. Many fictional aliens have a human-type body. But how likely is it that intelligent alien life would develop a body shape similar to ours? It seems unlikely that organisms evolving for millions of years in another world would fit comfortably into our clothes. But the evolutionary circumstances on alien planets may have been similar to those that led humans to develop arms and legs, and fingers to manipulate tools. Some scientists say that our two-legged, symmetrical body shape could be the 'optimal design for an intelligent being'. Perhaps there is no other choice than for intelligent aliens to look like humans.

According to the passage, what characteristic of humans is suggested to be the result of evolution for manipulating tools?

Read the following passage and answer the question: Just how plausible are the ideas we hear about in science-fiction? LiveScience examines some popular concepts.

Teleportation. Digital information can be transmitted via computers, and in a similar way, some physicists have transmitted another type of information (called quantum information) nearly 10 miles (16 kms). However, this is a long way from teleporting actual material, or indeed, a person. Scientifically speaking, teleportation faces extreme obstacles. There are ideas for how to do it, but these are only speculative at the moment.

Invisibility cloaks. In the Star Trek universe, enemies hide, or 'cloak', their spaceships. Scientists say that anti-detection technologies might be possible, but invisibility cloaks like those in science fiction and fantasy are quite a way off. 'What you see in Harry Potter is far-fetched,' says David Smith, professor of electrical and computer engineering at Duke University. 'However, in the last few years, researchers have made a lot of progress in making objects invisible. Partial cloaks that work like sophisticated camouflage - rather like the alien in the 1987 movie Predator- might be achievable', says Smith.

What is the current status of teleportation, according to the passage?

Read the following passage and answer the question: Just how plausible are the ideas we hear about in science-fiction? LiveScience examines some popular concepts.

Teleportation. Digital information can be transmitted via computers, and in a similar way, some physicists have transmitted another type of information (called quantum information) nearly 10 miles (16 kms). However, this is a long way from teleporting actual material, or indeed, a person. Scientifically speaking, teleportation faces extreme obstacles. There are ideas for how to do it, but these are only speculative at the moment.

Invisibility cloaks. In the Star Trek universe, enemies hide, or 'cloak', their spaceships. Scientists say that anti-detection technologies might be possible, but invisibility cloaks like those in science fiction and fantasy are quite a way off. 'What you see in Harry Potter is far-fetched,' says David Smith, professor of electrical and computer engineering at Duke University. 'However, in the last few years, researchers have made a lot of progress in making objects invisible. Partial cloaks that work like sophisticated camouflage - rather like the alien in the 1987 movie Predator- might be achievable', says Smith.

According to the passage, what kind of information has been transmitted over a distance of nearly 10 miles?

Read the following passage and answer the question: WHY is IT so GOOD? Lincoln describes the ideal of democratic government in a single sentence. He gets so much into those ten words that it is surprising he needs all 272 for the whole speech. Lincoln is saying that the Civil War has to be waged for the principles of the founding fathers, who drafted the Declaration of Independence, particularly the principle of all people being equal, and at this moment, they are being betrayed. What he means, in a word he never actually uses, is slavery. Almost every American president since Lincoln has gone to Gettysburg, usually on Memorial Day, to pay homage to Lincoln and to the American Constitution. One who did not was John F Kennedy, who, in 1963, had to ask ex-president Eisenhower to stand in for him. Kennedy had to go down to Dallas on urgent political business. He never came back.

Based on the information in the passage, what is the word Lincoln never uses but implicitly refers to?

Read the following passage and answer the question: WHY is IT so GOOD? Lincoln describes the ideal of democratic government in a single sentence. He gets so much into those ten words that it is surprising he needs all 272 for the whole speech. Lincoln is saying that the Civil War has to be waged for the principles of the founding fathers, who drafted the Declaration of Independence, particularly the principle of all people being equal, and at this moment, they are being betrayed. What he means, in a word he never actually uses, is slavery. Almost every American president since Lincoln has gone to Gettysburg, usually on Memorial Day, to pay homage to Lincoln and to the American Constitution. One who did not was John F Kennedy, who, in 1963, had to ask ex-president Eisenhower to stand in for him. Kennedy had to go down to Dallas on urgent political business. He never came back.

According to the passage, why did John F. Kennedy not go to Gettysburg in 1963?

Read the following passage and answer the question: Stephen Hawking, the legendary English cosmologist, and author of A Brief History of Time, was regarded as a brilliant theoretical physicist, and for the British people, a national treasure. However, his famous computer-generated voice left many people puzzled.

Hawking died in 2018 at the age of 76. In 1965, while studying at Oxford, he was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a rare form of motor neurone disease. Incredibly, despite a poor prognosis, he lived with the disease for 55 years until his death. After catching pneumonia in 1985, Hawking had to have a tracheotomy to allow him to breathe. This left him unable to speak. After that, the professor's primary means of communication was a computer voice synthesizer which he controlled first with a hand-held clicker, and later with a sensor attached to his cheek. This computer-generated voice, known by its US developers as 'Perfect Paul', became Hawking's iconic voice, recognized around the world.

What medical condition was Stephen Hawking diagnosed with while studying at Oxford?

Read the following passage and answer the question: Stephen Hawking, the legendary English cosmologist, and author of A Brief History of Time, was regarded as a brilliant theoretical physicist, and for the British people, a national treasure. However, his famous computer-generated voice left many people puzzled.

Hawking died in 2018 at the age of 76. In 1965, while studying at Oxford, he was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a rare form of motor neurone disease. Incredibly, despite a poor prognosis, he lived with the disease for 55 years until his death. After catching pneumonia in 1985, Hawking had to have a tracheotomy to allow him to breathe. This left him unable to speak. After that, the professor's primary means of communication was a computer voice synthesizer which he controlled first with a hand-held clicker, and later with a sensor attached to his cheek. This computer-generated voice, known by its US developers as 'Perfect Paul', became Hawking's iconic voice, recognized around the world.

Based on the information in the passage, how did Stephen Hawking's medical condition impact his ability to speak?

Read the following passage and answer the question: Stephen Hawking, the legendary English cosmologist, and author of A Brief History of Time, was regarded as a brilliant theoretical physicist, and for the British people, a national treasure. However, his famous computer-generated voice left many people puzzled.

Hawking died in 2018 at the age of 76. In 1965, while studying at Oxford, he was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a rare form of motor neurone disease. Incredibly, despite a poor prognosis, he lived with the disease for 55 years until his death. After catching pneumonia in 1985, Hawking had to have a tracheotomy to allow him to breathe. This left him unable to speak. After that, the professor's primary means of communication was a computer voice synthesizer which he controlled first with a hand-held clicker, and later with a sensor attached to his cheek. This computer-generated voice, known by its US developers as 'Perfect Paul', became Hawking's iconic voice, recognized around the world.

What event in 1985 led to Stephen Hawking using a tracheotomy and losing his ability to speak?

Read the following passage and answer the question: When I first met John when I gave him a lift to a music festival. It was the first festival I’d been to since I was a teenager. He jumped into my car with a friend of ours. My first impression was that he was a bit ignorant because he didn’t want to join in our conversation about cars, but he works as a journalist and so I thought he must be an interesting person, which, as I later found out, he is.

We go to the gym together and, mostly, we go out to the pub. Our friendship was a gradual process. I talked to him a lot and gave him advice when he was getting divorced. I also counselled his ex-wife, because I was also friendly with her - I’ve learned never to take sides, something I’ve tried to teach John. He’s quite a private person, so I think it’s good to get him to open up more.

I love the fact that he doesn’t take himself too seriously. We’re just comfortable with each other and can laugh in any situation. We both like being the centre of attention, and if one is getting more, the other won’t like it. We complain about each other, but he’s very loyal. I’ve never noticed the age difference. Hopefully, he’ll be happy to push me around in a wheelchair in my old age.

In the context of the passage, what does the word "counselled" mean?

Read the following passage and answer the question: When I first met John when I gave him a lift to a music festival. It was the first festival I’d been to since I was a teenager. He jumped into my car with a friend of ours. My first impression was that he was a bit ignorant because he didn’t want to join in our conversation about cars, but he works as a journalist and so I thought he must be an interesting person, which, as I later found out, he is.

We go to the gym together and, mostly, we go out to the pub. Our friendship was a gradual process. I talked to him a lot and gave him advice when he was getting divorced. I also counselled his ex-wife, because I was also friendly with her - I’ve learned never to take sides, something I’ve tried to teach John. He’s quite a private person, so I think it’s good to get him to open up more.

I love the fact that he doesn’t take himself too seriously. We’re just comfortable with each other and can laugh in any situation. We both like being the centre of attention, and if one is getting more, the other won’t like it. We complain about each other, but he’s very loyal. I’ve never noticed the age difference. Hopefully, he’ll be happy to push me around in a wheelchair in my old age.

According to the passage, what activity do the narrator and John often do together?

Read the following passage and answer the question: When I first met John when I gave him a lift to a music festival. It was the first festival I’d been to since I was a teenager. He jumped into my car with a friend of ours. My first impression was that he was a bit ignorant because he didn’t want to join in our conversation about cars, but he works as a journalist and so I thought he must be an interesting person, which, as I later found out, he is.

We go to the gym together and, mostly, we go out to the pub. Our friendship was a gradual process. I talked to him a lot and gave him advice when he was getting divorced. I also counselled his ex-wife, because I was also friendly with her - I’ve learned never to take sides, something I’ve tried to teach John. He’s quite a private person, so I think it’s good to get him to open up more.

I love the fact that he doesn’t take himself too seriously. We’re just comfortable with each other and can laugh in any situation. We both like being the centre of attention, and if one is getting more, the other won’t like it. We complain about each other, but he’s very loyal. I’ve never noticed the age difference. Hopefully, he’ll be happy to push me around in a wheelchair in my old age.

Why does the narrator appreciate John's personality?

What is the term for a person who describes a sports event while it's happening on TV or radio?

Which term refers to a person who reads the news on TV or radio?

What is the term for photographers who follow famous people around to get photos of them to sell to newspapers and magazines?

Which term describes a person who writes articles for different papers and is not employed by any one paper?

What is the term for a person who writes in a newspaper or magazine giving advice to people in reply to their letters?

What term is used for a person who is in charge of a newspaper or magazine, or part of one, and who decides what should be in it?

Which term refers to a person who collects and reports news for newspapers, radio, or TV?

What do we call a person who writes (a review) about the good/bad qualities of books, concerts, theatre, films, etc.?

What is the term for a person who introduces the different sections of a radio or TV programme?

What is the meaning of the word "blizzard"?

Which term refers to "a period of unusually hot weather"?

What is the definition of "drought"?

What does the term "hail" mean?

Which word is associated with "a flash of very bright light in the sky caused by electricity"?

Define the term "monsoon."

What is the meaning of the word "astonished"?

What does the word "bewildered" mean?

How would you define the term "delighted"?

Define the word "desperate."

What is the synonym for "devastated"?

How would you define the term "horrified"?

What does the word "overwhelmed" mean?

Define the term "stunned."

What is the meaning of the word "thrilled"?

What is the definition of the word "burglar"?

In the context of home security, what does the phrase "be burgled" mean?

What crime is described by the term "burglary"?

What does the phrasal verb "break into" mean?

What is the definition of the verb "steal" in the context provided?

My boss is very __________. When things go wrong, he starts shouting at everyone.

Choose the correct term:

I'm very __________. I tend to forget things.

Select the opposite:

I think Paul is a bit __________. He never spends money unless he absolutely has to.

Fill in the blank:

Sylvia won't have any problems at the interview - she's very self-__________.

Choose the correct term:

That dress is very old-__________. It looks like the kind of thing my granny would wear.

What is the best definition for the term "gut feeling" as used in the passage?