READING COMPREHENSION ACTIVITY FOR 11º

READ THE TEXTS AND ANSWER THE QUESTIONS ABOUT THEM

JAPAN'S MOST FAMOUS DOG

In front of the enormous Shibuya train station in Tokyo, there is a life-size bronze statue of a dog. Even though the statue is very small when compared to the huge neon signs flashing, it isn't difficult to find. It has been used as a meeting point since 1934 and today you will find hundreds of people waiting there for their friends to arrive.
Hachiko, an Akita dog,was born in 1923 and brought to Tokyo in 1924. His owner, Professor Eisaburo Uyeno and he were inseparable friends right from the start. Each day Hachiko would accompany his owner, a professor at the Imperial University, to Shibuya train station when he left for work. When he came back, the professor would always find the dog patiently waiting for him. Sadly, the professor died suddenly at work in 1925 before he could return home.
Although Hachiko was still a young dog, the bond between him and his owner was very strong and he continued to wait at the station every day. Sometimes, he would stay there for days at a time, though some believe that he kept returning because of the food he was given by street vendors. He became a familiar sight to commuters over time. In 1934, a statue of him was put outside the station. In 1935, Hachiko died at the place he last saw his friend alive.

1 - The statue of Hachiko is small.
a. Right
b. Wrong
c. Doesn't say

2 - The statue is difficult to find because there are so many people there.
a. Right
b. Wrong
c. Doesn't say

3 - The professor worked in a school.
a. Right
b. Wrong
c. Doesn't say

4 - The professor died at work.
a. Right
b. Wrong
c. Doesn't say

5 - The dog waited every day at the station.
a. Right
b. Wrong
c. Doesn't say

6 - Nobody gave the dog any food.
a. Right
b. Wrong
c. Doesn't say

7 - The dog died before the statue was put outside the station.
a. Right
b. Wrong
c. Doesn't say

The Post Office

The colony of Massachusetts established the first post office within the United States in 1639. In 1789 Congress authorized the postal service under the U.S. Constitution. At the time, the nation had 75 local post offices and delivered mail over an area of 1875 mi.
Today, the postal service is an independent agency responsible for postal regulation and delivery. The Postal Services main responsibilities are the collection and delivery of printed material and hard goods. The Postal Service also issues domestic and foreign money orders. In a single year, the Postal Service handles more than 160 billion pieces of mail.

ANSWER THE QUESTIONS:

1. What U.S. State is credited with the Invention of the post office?
a. New Hampshire b. Maine
c. Massachusetts d. New Jersey

2. About how long was it between when the first post office was in operation and when the U.S. congress authorized the postal service?
a. 50 years b. 75 years
c. 100 years d. 150 years

3. How can you send and receive money through the post office?
a. with a postal money order b. with postal crazy bucks
c. with a postal check d. with a postal decoder ring

4. The post office handles just over 160 _________ pieces of mail a year.
a. thousand b. million
c. billion d. trillion

READING COMPREHENSION FOR 11°

ACTIVITY
Read the texts and answer the questions about them

Jungle girl found

A girl 1) __________ disappeared 2) __________ she was eight 3) __________ old has been found 4) __________ Cambodia, according to 5) __________ father. Eighteen years after she disappeared, a woman was 6) __________ in a village in the Ratanakkiri province trying to steal food. The woman who was found looks 7) __________ other members of the family.
She can't speak 8) __________ language that has been identified and is very frightened, but her family hope that she will adjust and settle down.
Questions
1. a. which b. who c. she
2. a. when b. while c. during
3. a. year b. years c. age
4. a. at b. in c. on
5. a. his b. her c. their
6. a. find b. found c. founded
7. a. a b. as if c. like
8. a. any b. no c. the

Paul Robeson

Paul Robeson was born in New Jersey 1) __________ 1898. After school, he went to Rutgers University, then took a law degree and worked as 2) __________ lawyer for a few years.
He then became a famous actor and singer, starring 3) __________ a number of British films after he went to live there. 4) __________ he returned to the United States, he spoke against the conditions African Americans faced.
After he 5) __________ to communist Russia, 6) __________ passport was taken away and he could not leave the country. He got 7) __________ back, but it was hard to see his films or 8) __________ his recordings for many years.
Questions
1. a. in b. on c. at
2. a. the b. for c. a
3. a. in b. on c. at
4. a. where b. when c. afterwards
5. a. went b. visited c. gone
6. a. the b. him c. his
7. a. Passport b. them c. it
8. a. listen b. hear c. see

ACTIVITY MODAL VERBS FOR 10°

ACTIVITY

A. Write "Can" or "May" to complete the sentences:

1. My boss ________ speak English very fluently

2. You ________ take my dictionary for your exam (formal)

3. Your sister ________ come with us to the cinema. It depends on your mother (formal)

4. You ________ open the bottle with that corkscrew

5. You ________ use my computer if you want (formal)

6. ________ you bring me a glass of water, please?

7. My father is very strong, he ________ lift 100 kg

8. You ________ enter the party with this invitation

9. You ________ find that book in the Central Library

10. ________ I switch on the light? I would like to read the newspaper (informal)


B. Write "Can" / "Could" to complete the sentences:


1. ________ I watch the football match in your house? (informal)

2. When I asked him, he said his daughter ________ come with us to the party

3. You are very strong, I am sure that you ________ lift a weight of 75 kilos

4. I told my son that it was too late and he ________ not go to the party

5. My father was very fit; he ________ run a mile in less than 4 minutes

6. ________ I open the window? It is very hot in here (formal)

7. The anaesthetist asked the doctor if he ________ postpone the operation for at least one hour

8. The soldiers are very tired. Please, tell them that they ________ rest for two hours

9. James says that his daughter ________ come with us to the cinema

10. In this building you ________ not smoke


C. Write "Must" / “Should" to complete the sentences:

1. It is very cold, we ________ light the fire (a father to his son)

2. You ________ go to bed now. It is very late (obligation)

3. You ________ come back home before midnight

4. If I want to do a master, I ________ study a lot

5. The neighbours complained and the police told us that we ________ to turn the music down

6. This is a secret; you ________ not say anything about it

7. You look very tired. You ________ rest

8. (A mother to her son) You ________ change your clothes; they are very dirty

9. During the exam you ________ not speak to your classmates

10. (A boss to his employee) You ________ finish your report before 4 o'clock

READING COMPREHENSION FOR 10º

ACTIVITY
Read the text and answer the questions about it

A son writes ...

Last week I asked my Mum if I could go to a rock festival. `No', she said, `the music will be too loud ... there'll be crowds of people ... you won't know anybody ...'.

These excuses were so lame I decided there was some other secret reason why she didn't want me to go. After all, this is the first time my mum has ever shown any concern about the dangers of loud music.

I think the real reason Mum is worried about my going to the festival is that my friends and I will have to survive by ourselves for a couple of days. This might not sound like much of a challenge, but surviving means preparing food as well as eating it, putting tents up as well as sleeping in them ...

Mum has obviously realized that if I went to the festival I would soon find out how totally dependent on her I am. And once I realized how incapable I am of surviving on my own, I would never leave home again. Then Mum would have a pathetic teenager / adult under her feet for the rest of her life.

QUESTIONS

1. Answer the following questions using your own words.
a) Why did the son find it difficult to believe the excuses that his mum gave him?
b) What does he think she is really worried about?

2. Are the following statements true (T) or false (F)?
a) The mother doesn't like music festivals.
b) If the son had gone to the festival, he would have slept in a youth hotel.

3. Find a word or phrase in the text which, in context, is similar in meaning to:
a) continue to live or exist :
b) difficult task:

4. Choose a, b, or c, in each question below. Only one choice is correct.

1. According to the writer, his mother refused to let him go to the festival because ...
a) she knew something secret about the festival.
b) she wanted to go with him but she couldn't.
c) she imagined the future consequences of letting him go

2. The son wanted to go to the festival for ...
a) two days with his friends.
b) two days alone.
c) a couple of weekends.

3. The mother realized that ...
a) she was very dependent on her son.
b) her son would leave home.
c) her son would realize how difficult life without her would be.

4. The mother seems not to want ...
a) her son to leave home.
b) her son to become a pathetic person forever.
c) to become a pathetic adult herself.

ACTIVITY ABOUT CONDITIONALS FOR 10°

ACTIVITY

A. Circle the following Conditional Sentences Type I, II or II.

1. If he had brought the vase, it would have broken.
Type I Type II Type III

2. If you read the book, you will learn a lot.
Type I Type II Type III

3. If I had gone to the party, I would have danced with him
Type I Type II Type III

4. I would run if I saw a spider.
Type I Type II Type III

5. We would have eaten hamburger if you had been with us.
Type I Type II Type III

6. If you had listened to me, the accident wouldn't have happened.
Type I Type II Type III

7. If we don't get tickets for the concert, we'll stay at home.
Type I Type II Type III

8. They would go by bus if they wanted.
Type I Type II Type III

9. She will buy a house if she has money.
Type I Type II Type III

10. He would have won the contest if he had participated.
Type I Type II Type III

ACTIVITY

Put the verbs in brackets into the gaps. Form a Conditional sentence

TYPE I
1) If I (to come) home earlier, I (to prepare) dinner.
2) If we (to live) in Rome, Francesco (to visit) us.
3) If Tim and Tom (to be) older, they (to play) in our hockey team.
4) If he (to be) my friend, I (to invite) him to my birthday party.
5) If Susan (to study) harder, she (to be) better at school.

TYPE II
6) If they (to have) enough money, they (to buy) a new car.
7) If you (to do) a paper round, you (to earn) a little extra money.
8) If Michael (to get) more pocket money, he (to ask) Doris out for dinner.
9) If we (to hurry), we (to catch) the bus.
10) If it (to rain), Nina (to take) an umbrella with her.

TYPE III
11) If the weather (to be) nice, they (to play) football.
12) If we (to go) to a good restaurant, we (to have) a better dinner.
13) If John (to learn) more words, he (to write) a good report.
14) If the boys (to take) the bus to school, they (to arrive) on time.
15) If the teacher (to explain) the homework, I (to do) it.

ACTIVITY ABOUT CONNECTORS FOR 11°

ACTIVITY

Complete the sentences with one of the following connectors: actually, although, but, consequently, despite, in addition, namely, on the contrary, so, such as.

1. Aircraft engines are well mainted ___________ accidents are unavoidable.
2. ___________ the number of tourists visiting our country may fall next year, we expect better spending rates.
3. There are plenty of inappropriate solutions to the current economic crisis, ____________ cutting down on public investments.
4. We have bought a new flat. _____________ , we cannot afford to go on holiday this summer.
5. They are very poor.__________ , they don’t have a cent in the bank.
6. The play was very boring ____________ we left after the first act.
7. He has to take photos of the places he visits. _________ , he’s keeping a diary of his journey.
8. Not everybody thinks the building is ugly. ___________, some people say it looks marvellous.
9. Some companies , __________ our own, think that employees’ well-being in the work place is key to success.
10. ___________ being famous, she is not arrogant at all.

READING COMPREHENSION.
Read the text and answer the questions

THE DRIVER
Gustavo works far away from his home. He drives a car to work. It takes him 3 hours to get there. Gustavo drives. While he drives, he thinks about many things. He thinks about his little girl. She likes to ride horses. He thinks about his little boy. He plays fireman all the time. He thinks about his wife. She milks the cows on the farm. Gustavo thinks of things he has to do when he gets home. He needs to cut the grass. He needs to water the flowers. He wants to read a story to his little girl. He wants to play a game with his little boy. He wants to sit with his wife. He wants to tell her about his day.
Questions:
11)) How does Gustavo get to work?
A. By bus
B. By car
C. By horse
D. By train
2) What does Gustavo do when he drives?
A. He sings.
B. He talks.
C. He thinks.
D. He Works
3) What does Gustavo think about?
. A. His car.
B. His little boy.
C. His wife.
D. His work. 4
4) How long does it take Gustavo to get to work?
A. ___________________
5) What does his little girl like to do?
A. Milk cows.
B. Play fireman.
C. Ride horses.
D. Water flowers. 6
6) What does his little boy like to play?
A. ___________________ 7
7) What does Gustavo need to do when he gets home?
. A. Read a story.
B. Milk the cows.
C. Cut the grass.
D. Water the flowers.
8) What does Gustavo want to do when he gets home?
. A. Sit with his wife.
B. Water the flowers.
C. Read to his little girl.
D. Play a game with his little boy 9
9) Why may Gustavo need to cut the grass?
A. It is too green.
B. It is too brown.
C. It is too long.
D. It is too short. 1
10) Why may Gustavo need to water the flowers?
A. So they will go.
B. So they will give.
C. So they will grow.
D. So they will guess.