9 GRADE .
LISTENING COMPREHENSION.
THE BOX OF ROBBERS.
( American Fairy Tales by L. Frank Baum )
No one intended to leave Martha alone that afternoon , but it happened that everyone was called away, for one reason or another. Mrs. McFarland was attending the weekly card party held by the Women’s Anti-Gambling League . Sister Nell’s young man had called quite unexpectedly to take her for a long drive. Papa was at the office , as usual . It was Mary Ann’s day out. As for Emeline , she certainly should have stayed in the house and looked after the little girl ; but Emeline had a restless nature .
‘Would you mind, miss, if I just cross the alley to speak a word to Mrs. Carleton’s girl ?’ she asked Martha.
‘ Course not ‘ , replied the child . ‘ You’d better lock the back door, though, and take the key, for I shall be upstairs’.
‘ Oh, I’ll do that , of course, miss’, said the delighted maid , and ran away to spend the afternoon with her friend, leaving Martha quite alone in the big house , and locked in.
The little girl read a few pages in her new book, sewed a few stitches in her embroidery and started to ‘ play visiting’ with her four favourite dolls. Then she remembered that in t6he attic there was a doll’s playhouse that hadn’t been used for months , so she decided she would dust it and put it in order.
Filled with this idea , the girl climbed the winding stairs to the big room under the roof . It was well lit by three dormer windows and was warm and pleasant. Around the walls were rows of box trunks , piles of old carpeting , pieces of damaged furniture, bundles of discarded clothing and other odds and ends of more or less value. Every well-regulated house has an attic of this sort, so I need not describe it.
The doll’s house had been moved, but after a search Martha found it away over in a corner near the big chimney.
She drew it out and noticed that behind it was a black wooden chest which Uncle Walter had sent over from Italy years and years ago- before Martha was born, in fact. Mamma had told her about it one day ; how there was no key to it, because Uncle Walter wished it to remain unopened until he returned home; and how this wandering uncle, who was a mighty hunter, had gone into Africa to hunt elephants and had never been heard from afterwards. The little girl looked at the chest curiously, now that it had by accident attracted her attention.
It was quite big-bigger even than mamma’s traveling trunk—and was studded all over with tarnished brassheaded nails. It was heavy, too, for when Martha tried to lift one end of it she found she could not stir it a bit. But there was a place in the side of the cover for a key. She stopped to examine the lock, and saw that it would take a rather big key to open it.
Then, as you may suspect, the little girl longed to open Uncle Walter’s big box and see what was in it. For we are all curious, and little girl are just as curious as the rest of us.
‘ I don’t believe Uncle Walter’s ever come back,’ she thought. ‘ Papa said once that some elephant must have killed him. If only I had a key…’ She stopped and clapped her little hands together gaily as she remembered a big basket of key on the shelf in the linen closet. They were of all sort and sized ; perhaps one of them would unlock the mysterious chest!
She flew down the stairs, found the basket and returned with it to the attic. Then she sat down before the brass – studded box and began trying one key after another in the curious old lock. Some were too large, but most were too small. One would go into the lock but would not turn; another stuck so fast that she feared for a time that she would never get it out again. But at last , when the basket was almost empty , an oddly—shaped, ancient brass key slipped easily into the lock. With a cry of joy Martha turned the key with both hands; then she heard a sharp ‘click’, and the next moment the heavy lid flew up of its own accord!
The little leaned over the edge of the chest an instant, and the sight that met her eyes caused her to start back in amazement.
Slowly and carefully a man unpacked himself from the chest , stepped out upon the floor, stretched his limbs and then took off his hat and bowed politely to the astonished child.
He was tall and thin and his face seemed badly tanned or sun-burnt. Then another man emerged from the chest, yawning and rubbing his eyes like a sleepy schoolboy. He was of middle size and his skin seemed as badly tanned as that of the first. While Martha stared open-mouthed at the remarkable sight a third man crawled from the chest. He had the same complexion as his fellow, but was short and fat.
All three were dressed in a curios manner. They wore short jacket of red velvet braided with gold, and knee trousers of sky—blue satin with silver buttons. Over their stocking were laced wide ribbons of red and yellow and blue, while their hats had broad brims with high, peaked crowns, from which fluttered yards of bright—colored ribbons.
They had big gold rings in their ears and rows of knives and pistols in their bells. Their eyes were black and glittering and they wore long ,fierce mustaches, curling at the ends like a pig’s tail.
Direction: in this part of the section you will listen to a text. After listening look at the questions (1—10) and decide, which of them are true (T) and which are false(F) according to the text you have heard and mark the letter you have chosen by encircling it.
- Martha’s father doesn’t engage in physical or mental activity a lot.
- Martha wasn’t in need of being left without the company or help of others in the house.
- Martha first went to the attic to get back a doll’s playhouse.
- The author thought that Martha’s attic was very representative.
- The doll’s house was in foremost side of a black stiff, clumsy, awkward chest.
- Martha moved the chest before she unfastened it .
- Most of the keys Martha tried in the lock were too big.
- The first man to pop out of the chest did so politely.
- The second man to step out of the chest was the chubbiest.
- The man had something that could be used to attack someone.
Direction: in this part of the section you will listen to the text for the second time. After listening look at the questions (11-20) decide , which of the given answers (a, b, c or d) best corresponds to what was started or implied in the text you have heard and mark your answer in the booked by encircling the letter of your choice.
- Mrs. McFarland…
a)was working.
b)was decking of cards.
c)had the day off.
- Emeline was Martha’s…
a)sister.
b)mother.
c)friend
d)domestics.
- All of these were in the attic except…
a)rows of boxes.
b)opening in a wall.
c)odds and ends.
d)a hamper of keys.
- The chest…
a)had never been in the attic before.
b)had recently been sent from Italy.
c)had been in the attic for many years.
d)had come from Africa many years ago.
- According to the text, Uncle Walter was many things except…
a)a mighty hunter.
b)an alligator campaigner.
c)a world traveler.
d)a victim of a horrible elephant attack.
- Judging by the lock on the trunk, the ‘wrench’ would have to be…
a)brass.
b)oddly-shaped
c)a great length.
d)more than average size.
- The key that opened the chest was…
a)the first key Martha took out of the basket.
b)one of the first key Martha took out of the basket.
c)one of the last keys left in the basket.
d)the last key left in the basket.
- The men had..
a)dark complexions and earrings.
b)short moustaches and rings on the fingers.
c)brown eyes and pig-tails.
d)plain clothes and swords.
- The men’s clothing included…
a)red velvet trousers.
b)sky-blue jackets.
c)golden stockings.
d)derbies with narrow strips.
- In this story, Martha is everything except…
a)curious.
b)illogical.
c)independent.
d)amazed.
READING COMPREHENSION.
Text 1 . ( Questions 1-5). THE SUEZ CANAL .
The Suez Canal , which was opened to shipping in 1869 , is by no means the first man-made link between the Red Sea and the Mediterranean : a much smaller canal was constructed around 2600 years ago , and even that may not have been the first . For well over a thousand years , this canal was sometimes maintained , and sometimes neglected , then abandoned in the 8th century AD .
In 1799 there was a French proposal to excavate a canal large enough for ocean-going ships to sail from the Mediterranean to the Red Sea . The plan was dropped , in the belief that the surface of the Red Sea was nine meters higher than the Mediterranean . In fact , the sea levels had been miscalculated . Despite this setback , French interest in the idea continued , and was encouraged by the discovery in 1847 that the two seas were at almost the same level .
The Frenchman Ferdinand de Lesseps set up a company to attract the necessary investment and build the canal . Construction began in 1859 , and ten years later the opening of the canal was marked by several weeks of celebrations , including fireworks , a ball attended by six thousand people , and Verdi’s opera Aida , which had been commissioned for the event . De Lesseps later began the much more difficult project of constructing the Panama Canal .
Direction : in this part of the section you will read a text . After reading look at the questions 1-5 decide , which of them are true ( + ) and which are false (-) according to the text you have read and mark the sign you have chosen by encircling it .
1 . The earlier canal was in continuous use for more than 1000 years .
2 . The 1799 plan was dropped because of a mistake .
3 . De Lesseps contributed to the cost of building the canal .
4 . Verdi was asked to compose an opera to be performed when the canal was opened .
5 . Suez was the last canal that De Lesseps constructed .
Text 2 . (Questions 6-10 ) .
DRESS DOWN : A LONDON -BASED INVESTMENT BANKER EXAMINES A GROWING TREND IN THE CITY’S FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS .
The dress-down phenomenon seems to have originated in places where staff work through the oppressive heat of summer whilst their families take refuge at the coast or in the hills . Dress-down , restricted to Fridays , allowed staff to head straight for their out-of-town retreats on Friday evening without going home to change. But in New York it has now become a week-round state of affairs. This move may have been born out of consideration ; to allow people on Wall Street to commute to work in the heat in something more comfortable than a suit , but the effect is less begin .
For me, dress-down is a nuisance for two reasons. The first is that it actually requires a whole new wardrobe . For my male colleagues in the US , it seemed to mean a switch from one uniform (single-breasted suit, silk ties ) to another (designer shirts, chinos and blazers ). I basically only own two types of clothes; suits for working in and truly casual gear for relaxing weekends in the countryside.
Returning to London , I was therefore rather disconcerted to discover that my employers had institutedsummer dress-down . Here too, though its relevance to the climate is far from immediately apparent . Initially, I tried to sidestep it by simply turning up in my suit as usual , but my staff complained that they then felt pressured into doing the same. So , I found myself having to buy ‘smart casual’ clothes specifically to wear to work : a ridiculous expense. Even more irritating is the fact that I’m still obliged to have a suit hanging up in my office in case. I’m suddenly called to a meeting on our conference floor , where dress-down is banned lest a client should witness it. One of my colleagues started to accumulate more and more very smart suits in her office, explaining that she was having her flat renovated and that the in-office wardrobe was a necessity as she was staying at a different friend’s place each night. We weren’t convinced.
For the other great inconvenience of dress-down for the staff is that it makes it easier than ever to spot when colleagues are going to job interviews. For the rest of the year, it is easy enough to arrange these during the working week, but in the summer when dress-down rules, it’s a dead giveaway to arrive in overly smart clothes and then pop out for a ‘dental appointment’. I would normally applaud this state of affairs, as a substantial part of my time is spent trying to prevent valued employees from moving elsewhere, and clues about their intentions are helpful and allow me to nip things in the bud. However, the clothes hanging in my office are now finding a second use. I have suddenly become the target for several ‘ headhunters’, people employed by other companies to try and tempt employees away with offers of better pay and conditions. The headhunters that I retain on behalf of the bank are, of course, not allowed to approach me. But others are, and have. Until recently, I ignored these calls. I’ve barely had time to go to the hairdressers between overseas trips, let alone attend a job interview. However, as the financial rewards proffered have reached breathtaking amounts. I’ve been forced to take an interest.
Direction: in this part of the section you will read a text. After reading look at the questions 6-10 decide ,which of the given answers (a, b, c or d ) best corresponds to what was stated or implied in the text you have read and mark your answer in the booklet by encircling the letter of your choice.
6. According to the writer , ‘dress-down’ in New York began as a way of :
a. discouraging staff from taking summer holidays.
b. showing concern for staff who lived out of town.
c. rewarding those employees willing to work in the heat.
d. making life easier for staff in the summer months.
7. What was the writer’s first reaction to the idea of ‘dress-down’ in her London office ?
a. She attempted to ignore it.
b. She argued against it.
c. She recognized the need for it.
d. She urged her staff to adopt it.
8. The aspect of ‘dress-down’ that most annoys the writer is the fact that :
a. her clients find it embarrassing.
b. not everyone has to conform to it.
c. it does not apply on all occasions.
d. the clothes themselves do not suit her.
9. In which aspect of her work does the writer find ‘dress-down’ an advantage ?
a. recruiting new members of staff.
b. monitoring the honestly of her staff.
c. providing her staff with feedback.
d. ensuring her staff remain loyal.
10. Why did the writer not respond immediately to the ‘headhunters’ ?
a. She knew they would increase their offer.
b. She had a hectic schedule to contend with.
c. She felt it was wrong to deal with them.
d. She was concerned about her appearance.
Text 3 . ( Questions 11-15 ).
A DIVORCED MOTHER.
Renata Smith , a divorced mother of two young girls, Sabrina aged ten and Joey aged six , lives in Sheffield. 11------
Renata was working as a secretary in the city when she met Tom, a lorry driver, at a party. 12------.At first she and Tom lived with her parents but then, when Renata was expecting Sabrina , they moved into a council flat. 13------. Renata started bringing up the girls on her own , though her mother was always ready to help when she could . 14------. When she’s not at work , the girls have priority. They are the most important thing in her life, and she is determined to be both mother and father to them. 15------.
Direction : in this part of the section you will read a text in which some parts of it are missing . Choose the most appropriate part from the list ( A-G )for each gap (11-15) in the text . There are two extra parts that you do not need to use .
A. Tom had to spend a lot of time away from home and , soon after the birth of their second child, he left Renata to live in another city.
B. She has been working there for nearly two years now and enjoys spending her days in the office