The people below are all looking for a restaurant.

There are reviews of eight restaurants.

Decide which restaurant would be the most suitable for the people below.
1 It’s Jenny’s 30th birthday and she would like to take a group of friends out for a meal. She’d like a
party atmosphere with live music.
2 Kieran has an hour to wait before his train leaves. He would like somewhere that serves quality, fast
food. He needs somewhere he can get to the station quickly.
3 Jon and his wife Debbie are celebrating their 20th wedding anniversary and would like to have a nice
romantic meal somewhere not too busy. They love going on holiday to Italy.
4 Marie and her husband Harry want to take their young son for a meal. It would be good if there was
something for him to do as he has a lot of energy!
5 Trevor is working late tonight at the office. He wants to order something over the phone to eat at his
desk. He likes spicy food and is happy to pay for delivery.
Restaurant reviews
A Southern Chicken Takeaway
Ordered a takeaway chicken and chips from this place. Nice food but ordering was difficult. Someone in
the kitchen was playing music really loudly and I could hardly hear what the man serving me was
saying. I would have ordered over the phone but they don’t deliver.
B The Noodle Bar
This is what fast food should be like. From delicious Japanese soups to hot Thai main meals. Eat in or
take away. They’re very popular with locals and if you’re eating at a table it can take a while to get
served. They charge 10% delivery for takeaways.
C Spice World
Phew! Just had one of the hottest curries I’ve ever eaten. I must say it was also one of the nicest meals
I’ve had for a while. Unfortunately, it has only just opened, and they haven’t organised a takeaway
service yet but looking forward to ordering one when they do.
D Sandy’s
A fantastic restaurant just outside of town. Took our young daughter there last weekend and she loved
choosing her own meals from the children’s menu. If only they would provide something like a
colouring book or an activity to keep children occupied as she soon started to get bored.
E Take a Tumble
We had our grandchildren for the day and were lucky enough to find the new ‘Take a Tumble’ in town.
Lots of activities for young children who can climb, slide or swim. They serve simple, cheap lunches
that saved us the bother of finding somewhere else to eat.
F Macs
I went to Macs, just opposite the entrance to the station last night. My friends had the fried chicken and I
had pizza. We were all really happy with our meal. The food was at our table in ten minutes and it tasted
great.
G Pasta della Piazza
Whether it’s a romantic meal for two or a memorable night with friends, Pasta della Piazza is the place
to go. We enjoyed a fantastic night out with lovely Italian food and sang along and danced thanks to
their regular pianist. You need to reserve to be sure of a table.
H Giovanni’s
This place is hidden away on the back streets of town. A tiny place with only five or six candlelit tables
but with a wonderful atmosphere. Italian music plays softly in the background making you feel as if
you’ve been transported to Florence or Rome.
The people below all want to celebrate their birthdays on Saturday.
There are descriptions of eight places they could go to.
Decide which place would be the most suitable for the people below.
1 Carlos wants a big day out with about 20 friends. He’s looking for an inexpensive activity where they
can have a meal cheaply, too.
2 Gemma’s planning to celebrate by going out for a meal with a small group of friends. She wants to
go to a lively place and doesn’t want to spend too much.
3 Jessica and Lucy are sisters and they’re going out with their family. They want to go to a restaurant
that has entertainment. Their parents are paying, so it doesn’t have to be too cheap.
4 Amelia is spending the day with a friend, her parents and her little sister. They’re looking for a place
that’s good for all the children and will take their own food with them.
5 Adam is meeting three friends. He wants to do an activity but he isn’t interested in sport and he
doesn’t have much money. He’s eating at home later, but would like to get a snack.
GREAT BIRTHDAY VENUES
A Moody’s
Moody’s is a modern pizza café in the centre of town. It’s very popular with teenagers and plays great
music every afternoon. Prices are reasonable and this Saturday includes our new ‘two for one’ offer.
Leave your parents behind and have fun at Moody’s!
B Museum Madness
Teenagers will love this latest party offer. Spend the night at the museum! Have a guided tour when all
the other visitors have gone. Enjoy party food, music and dancing. You must have one adult with you
and a maximum of ten friends. Don’t forget your sleeping bag!
C Oasis
Oasis is the most exciting place for swimming in town and Saturday afternoons are just for teenagers!
Special offer this Saturday only: pay for eight tickets and get two free. Visit the café after your swim for
pizzas, burgers and chips at low prices.
D Animal Magic
Visit your local farm this Saturday and receive half-price tickets for your next visit. Young children will
love the rabbits and the farm animals. Older brothers and sisters are more likely to enjoy one of the
Sunday afternoon talks. Bring lunch with you and spend a day at the farm.
E Mega-ride
Have fun at a Mega-ride theme park surrounded by beautiful countryside. Teenagers can enjoy the
amazing rides while younger children can visit the play area. Tickets are expensive, but save money by
bringing sandwiches and having lunch at the picnic area.
F ABC Cinema
Every Saturday afternoon this month, tickets to films starting before 4 p.m. in ABC Cinemas are half
price. There’s also an extra discount for groups of four or more. You can buy drinks and snacks at great
prices, too.
G Pablo’s
Enjoy wonderful Italian cooking at Pablo’s! This restaurant is quite expensive, but the food is fantastic.
Children and teenagers will love the regular live shows. Meet a mystery music guest this Saturday
afternoon.
H The Palace Hotel
Fine food in beautiful surroundings – The Palace Hotel is perfect for a special meal. Children are
welcome in the dining room. The prices are high, but the food is excellent and there is a small discount
for guests staying at the hotel.

1 Lisa is doing a history project at school. She wants to visit a general history museum before she
decides what period of history to study. She’s like to have a look at all the different times in history
worldwide.
2 Marcus is going to a big museum with his family this weekend. He doesn’t usually go to museums
because he gets bored easily, but he’s very interested in space. Marcus hopes they’ll go to a museum that
has plenty of equipment for him to use.
3 Ben, aged 8, and Erica, aged 12, are going to a museum with their aunt, Marilyn. Ben and Erica love
learning new things and they really like doing creative activities. Luckily, Marilyn likes these things,
too! She wants to find a museum that they can all enjoy together.
4 Yoko is interested in art and craft. She’d like to go to a small museum where she can see things being
made and buy some unusual gifts for her friends.
5 Brother and sister, Robert and Meg, are trying to find out about the history of their great
grandparents. They want to know more about what life was like for ordinary people in the 1920s and
1930s.
MUSEUMS
A City Museum
This weekend: dinosaur drawing for children aged 4 to 8 (adults, please stay, you can take part in the
activities, too). Making a pyramid and watching a video about ancient Egypt for children aged 9 to 10.
For children aged 12, we have tablets with the new museum app Imagine: you can look at sites where
dinosaur bones have been found as if you were there, you can select tools to use and even make real
discoveries. Every activity is free of charge.
B Transport Museum
We have exhibitions on transport through the ages from ancient Greece to the 21st century. A great
place to visit if you like trains, planes and automobiles! Don’t miss it! It’s a wonderful journey through
history.
C The Glass Place
Read about the history of glass-making. Watch a glass-making demonstration and visit the gift shop
where you can buy amazing glass items, including jewellery. Our new collection has just arrived. There
are earrings, bracelets and rings. All designs are original and unique.
D History Museum: Looking Back
Looking Back is a special exhibition that explores the history of the past 100 years looking at houses,
schools, shops, work and developments in transport. There are recordings in each exhibit with
interviews with local people who tell their stories. If you ever wondered what life was like in the past,
come and visit this spectacular exhibition.
E Fun Science
Learn about science and have fun at the same time. Do experiments and find out things for yourself. Try
the rocket simulator or watch a 3D film on stars and planets. Interact with sound, electricity, light and
the elements at the different science fun labs and collect stamps on your science passport. When you
reach the exit, you can get a Fun Young Scientist badge for your backpack.
F Time Museum
If you enjoy global history, come and visit us! Start by exploring the ancient world of Egypt and end by
watching a video about Asia’s most recent inventions. You can access timelines for specific regions with
our new software. This interactive learning experience will let you travel through time. There’s
something for everyone.
G Chocolate Museum
Watch a video about the history of chocolate, then visit the shop and choose from our huge selection of
chocolate items. A great place for the whole family.
H Natural History: Dinosaurs
We have a new exhibition of moving dinosaur models for adults and young people. Not recommended
for children aged eight and under as the dinosaurs are very noisy and a bit frightening!
The people below all want to decide what to watch.
There are some film and documentary reviews.
Decide which documentary or film would be the most suitable for the people below.
1 Jake enjoys watching fast-moving and entertaining films. He’d like to watch something really up to
date. A new action film or a new comedy would be the best choice for him.
2 Mara enjoys watching international sport. She’s interested in its history but would like a good
balance of talk and play. She loves listening to famous stars talking about their technical abilities and
motivation techniques.
3 Harry wants to study film and is very interested in the history of film-making. He’d like a general
view of how film has developed over the years. He’s keen to see something about the early film industry
and also about the latest technology used nowadays.
4 Natalia enjoys watching serious documentaries. She’s keen to understand more about the natural
world. She’s particularly interested in the variety of different plants and animals in different regions
around the world and what can be done to protect them.
5 Chan is interested in politics and likes to find out about current affairs. He’d prefer something light
that can make him laugh and help him relax. He doesn’t like romantic movies or drama. He doesn’t
mind a good quiz show or a game show.
FILM AND DOCUMENTARY REVIEWS
A Changing Direction
Sit back and watch the secrets of directors Spielberg, Tarantino, Hitchcock and more. Learn what made
them different and how they changed the path of film-making forever. Some of the footage compares the
equipment directors used at the beginning of their career with what they use today for filming. This is a
superb documentary that young and old will find fascinating.
B A Fascinating Story
This documentary is an amazing look at the secret life of the snow leopard. The filming is excellent and
the narration is fascinating. You’ll find out about the snow leopards’ habits, how they’re threatened and
what is being done to save them. You can learn about the latest conservation programmes that the
Biodiversity Trust is working on.
C An International Sound
This is an amazing documentary that follows the history of music right across the world: from folk
music to jazz, from a traditional tribal sound to acid house and funk. There are artists from each
continent. There’s something for everyone to enjoy.
D The Best Of: What’s New?
What’s new? is an extremely funny programme which checks people’s knowledge of the news. Guests
on the show include comedians and sports personalities as well as journalists and politicians. This show
picks out the funniest moments as well as the best stories of the year.
E How It Began
This great movie has only just been released. The film tells the story of how a simple robbery at a
jeweller’s shop turns into an international spying game. It’s an exciting and original story that you won’t
be able to stop watching.
F Strangers Meet
This movie is as original and exciting today as it was 50 years ago. The story is about two men who
meet by chance at a football match and agree to commit a crime. It’s a piece of history and one of the
best crime stories you’ll find.
G Politics And Presidents
This film documents the history of American politics and presidents starting from Abraham Lincoln and
going right up to the current president. There is original footage of significant moments in American
history as well as interviews with various politicians of the past. A must-buy if you’re interested in
American history.
H Across The World: A Three-part Series
Each of these outstanding series is divided into topics which include European football, South American
football and much more. The series includes interviews with all-time greats such as Pele, Maradona,
Beckham, Messi and Ronaldo, plus highlights of every World Cup Final so far.
Jessica Hail – Comedian
I’ve always enjoyed performing and making people laugh. When I was at school, I used to annoy some
of my teachers as I was always telling jokes in class. All my classmates used to laugh a lot and I had a
great time.
When I left school, I got a job in a fast food restaurant during the day and took acting classes in the
evening. I also started performing in theatres at the weekends. Sometimes the audience loved me, but
other times nobody laughed at my jokes. That was the worst feeling in the world.
After two or three years, I appeared on TV a few times and became better known. I finally got a part in a
TV comedy show and I’ve worked on TV ever since. I still do theatre work, and although it’s harder
than being on TV, I enjoy it much more. During those years when I performed in theatres, I learned so
much. It was great to start performing while I was still young. It gave me a lot of experience and it
helped me become confident on stage.
It isn’t easy to keep on being successful because it’s so difficult trying to think of new ideas all the time.
When I can’t think of anything to write about, I get very miserable. Then I usually go for a walk.
Walking is a great way to relax and it also helps you to think. I can go out for a walk in the morning
with no ideas in my head. When I return, my head is full of them and I can’t wait to write them down!
As well as walking, mountain climbing and diving help me to relax, too. I’m planning a climbing trip to
Nepal soon, which I’m really looking forward to! I’m sure I’ll come back with a lot of new jokes and
ideas. Inspiration is very important in my profession. If I’m inspired, I can create new performances and
make people laugh out loud! It’s fantastic. I think comedy is the cure for many things. It can take away
your worries and help you relax.
1 What does Jessica say about her life at school?
A Her friends were very funny.
B She enjoyed performing for her classmates.
C She disliked the teachers.
 D Her jokes were bad.
2 What did Jessica do when she left school?
A She trained to be a teacher.
B She started performing in a restaurant.
C She got a job and studied acting.
D She got a job in a theatre.
3 What does she say about her working life?
A People have always enjoyed her performances.
B Being on TV is the most difficult thing she’s done.
C Her first job was in a theatre.
D She’s worked in a variety of places.
4 Why does Jessica like walking?
A It makes her laugh.
B It helps her to get ideas.
C It takes away her worries.
D It allows her to empty her mind.
5 Which of the following is the best description of the writer?
A The comedian who never stops laughing herself.
B The funny person who loves her work but never has time to relax.
C The successful comedian who is always looking for new ideas.
D The popular star who loves being on TV more than anything else.
Kirsty Wade, young athlete
I’ve always been keen on sport and very fit so a few years ago I decided to join my local athletics club.
In the beginning I put all my effort into the long jump because it was my best event, but the coach
encouraged me to try different things.
I ended up as a middle-distance runner, which means I don’t run the short distances like 100 metres, or
long cross-country races, but the in-between ones like 800 metres. It’s an interesting type of running
because you have to mix speed with strength. You also have to think a lot about how you race, and
choose the right moment to run at your maximum speed. You need to do quite a lot of regular training
when you first start and it helps if you have a good coach who can keep you motivated and teach you the
basics.
I take part in some quite major competitions now, but I still remember my first race. I was so nervous
before it started. And when it finished, I could still feel my hands shaking. It was a great race and I came
second so I was very pleased. Since then I’ve learned to stay calm before and during races. I do a lot of
breathing exercises that help me stay focused and relaxed. Competing has really helped me to trust in
my own abilities. And now I find that I love running in front of a crowd – I suppose it’s a sort of
performance.
One thing I don’t enjoy so much is how hard you have to work to stay fit and strong enough to race,
although it helps that I often train with others. I try to eat and sleep well, but I don’t have a special diet.
Mostly it’s a case of getting plenty of variety and eating more of everything because I’m so active.
I sometimes watch Olympic athletes on TV and imagine myself in their position. It must be a fantastic
experience, but at the moment I don’t feel that is necessarily where I’m aiming. I think you have to give
up so much if you want to reach that level.
1 Why did the writer join an athletics club?
A Because she enjoyed taking part in sports.
B Because she thought she should get more exercise.
C Because she wanted to become an athletics coach.
D Because she wanted to become a professional long jumper.
2 What does the writer say about 800-metre running?
A You have to know when to run fastest.
B It’s harder than running in the 100 metres.
C It’s more important to be quick than strong.
D You need to forget everything and just run.
3 What does the writer say about competing in races now?
A It always makes her feel scared.
B It feels good to be in front during the race.
C It’s helped her to develop new skills.
D She enjoys people watching her race.
4 What does the writer say about the food she eats?
A If she eats a lot, she can run faster
B Eating plenty of food helps her to sleep better.
C She eats the same kind of things as other people.
D She would like to eat different types of food.
5 Which best describes the writer?
A A young athlete who trains hard and hopes to be selected for the Olympics in the future.
B A girl who was good at the long jump and likes running, but who doesn’t see herself becoming
an international athlete.
C A girl who is a keen athlete, but doesn’t like running in front of a crowd and who finds the
training very boring.
D A keen athlete who finds it enjoyable to practise with other people and compete as part of a team.
Painting in Spain
My husband, David, is an artist and has always been interested in painting pictures of the Spanish
countryside. We’ve both always loved Spanish culture and have spent many holidays in Spain. Five
years ago, we decided to give up our jobs in London, sell our house and move to a small village in the
south of Spain.
We thought it would take months to get organized, but in just three months, we’d sold our home, found
a house to rent, booked our ferry and said goodbye to our friends. We were so excited to move!
At first, we thought we’d stay here for a year, but when we arrived on a beautiful September evening,
we were amazed to realize immediately that we wanted to stay longer. The owners of our new house
were waiting to show us around and cooked us a lovely meal. Gradually, over the following weeks, we
settled into a routine. I got a job teaching English and began to learn the language while David painted.
David loved the scenery and he was inspired by the wonderful landscape around us. But mostly he fell
in love with the bright light of the sun in the south. As a painter, he’s always looking at the contrast
between colours and light. During the first six months, he spent hours outdoors painting. His paintings
were always about the same landscape but each one of them had something special. The elements in his
work were always changing and each new painting was even more beautiful than the previous one.
The following May while we were visiting a small town, we saw an empty shop. David thought it would
make a lovely art gallery and we decided to rent it for a year. We filled the shop with David’s paintings
and after two days, sold our first picture. Over the next few months, a lot of tourists bought paintings,
but the tourists went home in November and our shop became very quiet. But we advertised online and
soon business improved. We started getting orders from different places. Everyone loved David’s
paintings. Today our gallery is a great success and we both feel we’re living a perfect life.
1 Why does the writer say she moved to Spain?
A to find out more about Spanish culture
B because she and her husband loved the country
C because she had never been there before
D because she lost her job in London
2 What does the writer say about leaving London?
A It was difficult to sell their home.
B None of their friends wanted them to leave.
C They organized everything quickly.
D They rented their house to some of their friends.
3 What did the writer find surprising about her first day in Spain?
A She was offered a job teaching English.
B She and her husband decided to live in Spain for more than a year.
C The owners of the rented house were unfriendly.
D There was already somebody living in her new house.
4 When talking about the shop, the writer says that
A they sold nothing for several weeks.
B it was popular with tourists.
C they sold some paintings on the first day.
D it became very busy in November.
5 What might the writer say about living in Spain?
A I’m glad we came to live here, but I wish we hadn’t rented the gallery.
B The gallery has been a great success, but now we’d like to move back home.
C We’ve had very few problems. It’s definitely the best thing we’ve ever done.
D I wish we hadn’t moved here. I really miss my friends and family.
Sarah Forbes talks about how she gets a good night’s sleep
I can’t remember when I started to have problems sleeping. As a student I seemed to spend half of my
life sleeping. But after my graduation I found myself spending hours lying awake until the early hours of
the morning. After a few weeks of this I decided to do something about it. I often went to bed at
different times; perhaps there was a programme on TV I wanted to watch, or I’d be watching videos on
my phone. So I tried going to bed at the same time each night. This took a while to get used to but
slowly I found myself getting into a regular routine.
I also took the advice of a friend and made sure I did things to help me relax before I went to bed. I’d
start by writing a list of things I needed to do the next day so I wouldn’t end up thinking about them
during the night. I got into the habit of having a nice warm bath before bedtime and then did some
relaxation exercises like meditation. Reading also seemed to work, but not in the way I expected. I
would sometimes just fall asleep in the middle of a chapter!
I also found some suggestions online about how to make your bedroom sleep-friendly. I used to have
very thin curtains that let the light from outside shine through, so I changed these for thicker ones. I also
removed all technology from the room like the TV and the laptop as these are not supposed to help you
sleep, even if they are switched off. And of course I left the mobile phone downstairs!
And the result? I’m pleased to say it’s worked. Of course, there are some nights where I find it difficult
to go to sleep but mostly I’m getting a good seven hours· sleep a night. I started to make a note of my
sleep patterns and this is also useful as it helps show things that were making me lie awake, like
problems at work. So, I have to say it has been a very successful experiment.
1 When did Sarah’s sleeping problems begin?
A when she was a student
B after she finished at university
C a few weeks ago
D at different times during the week
2 Writing a list of jobs to be done
A helped Sarah read.
B meant Sarah worked harder the next day.
C was the first thing Sarah did at bedtime.
D helped her think more clearly.
3 What does Sarah say was the problem with her bedroom?
A Her friends didn’t like it.
B It didn’t have a TV.
C She often left her laptop switched on.
D It was too bright.
4 Sarah says that now
A she never finds it difficult sleeping.
B she keeps a record of how well she sleeps.
C she never thinks about work at night.
D sleeping better is helping her at work.
5 What would be a good introduction to this article?
A Our sleep expert Sarah Forbes explains how you can make sure you get a good night’s sleep.
B Sarah Forbes has not slept well for years. She told us how it affects her work.
C Sarah Forbes suddenly found herself having trouble getting to sleep. But she took control of the
situation.
D Sarah Forbes knows what it’s like not being able to sleep. Here she explains the dangers of lying
awake at night.
Clothes Exchange
Are you like me and have clothes in your wardrobe that you have hardly ever worn? Perhaps you even
have something with the label still attached. Before you put them in a bag and take them to your local
charity shop or throw them away, consider another possibility. (1)……….
Clothes swaps are becoming very popular as they give people the chance to offer their clothing they
don’t want in exchange for something they’d like to have for themselves. These parties are great for the
environment. (2)………. They also allow you to update what’s in your wardrobe and to do it without
spending any money at all.
If you’re thinking of organising one yourself, it’s best to keep the event quite small, just inviting friends
and relatives. (3)………. In order to make sure there’s something for everyone, and that everyone feels
included, invite people who are of a similar size and age. Either that or make sure there’ll be a wide
range of sizes on offer. Finally, decide on the number of items that everyone should bring before the
event.
On the day, each person is given a button for every item they bring. These are used instead of money.
You might decide before you start that some high-quality items should be worth more buttons than a
much cheaper item. (4)……….
Make sure items are presented nicely, not thrown on a table in a pile. The idea is to make the whole
experience feel professional, almost as enjoyable as looking round your local clothes shop.
Allow 15 minutes at the beginning for people to look at what is on offer. (5)………. Make sure nobody
tries to take anything before the swap is supposed to start or it may result in an argument!
A For example, some people bring clothes that are damaged.
B Do this with another person so everyone knows it has been done fairly.
C Then when you’re ready, the swap can begin.
D Why not organise a clothes exchange or clothes swap party?
E Firstly, people can recycle clothes that would otherwise end up as rubbish.
F That’s why you’ll have to find another location.
G With small numbers you can hold the event in your home.
H However. the idea became very popular with university students.
Why The Sea is Good for You
We all love spending time by the sea. The lucky ones might live on the coast and enjoy the benefits
throughout the year. (1)……….. Most of us would say we feel healthier by the ocean. In the past,
doctors would actually recommend spending time by the sea to their patients. And research has shown
that people who live on the coast are more likely to believe their health is good compared to those living
in a city. So how do we benefit, exactly?
Well, to start with it’s great for our mental health. (2)……….. They have shown that watching, listening
to or being in the ocean helps our brains slow down. The sound of the waves can help us relax and has a
positive effect in reducing feelings of stress. This is why people who have trouble sleeping are often told
to listen to recordings of the sound of waves hitting the shore to help them relax at bedtime.
(3)……….. We go out a lot more when we’re on holiday by the sea. We often become more active on
holidays and people who live on the coast are usually more active too. And if you take your walks on the
beach this is even better. (4)……….. The sea air is also good for people with breathing problems. There
is less pollution in the air near the ocean and in the autumn and winter the air is fresher. (5)……….. It
has even been found that the chemicals found in sea water are the same chemicals that help us have
healthy skin.
No wonder then that we often feel so much better at the end of a seaside holiday and why we look
forward so much to booking our next one!
A Being by the sea is also good for our physical health.
B This is healthier than the dry atmosphere in homes with central heating.
C It’s not just swimmers who know how to do this.
D The rest of us have to wait for our next holiday.
E However, in the end you’ll notice the difference.
F Walking on sand requires more effort than on the pavement.
G Scientists have discovered that we have something called a ‘blue mind’.
H So scientists disagree about the reasons for doing this.
Lost in the mountains
When you’re a mountain rescue volunteer, you never know when you’re going to be called to work. We
go out in all weather, and at any time of the day or night. If someone is in danger, there’s no time to
lose. On New Year’s Day last year, I was sitting down to breakfast with my family. (1)……….. Two
hikers had decided to celebrate the new year by walking along a mountain ridge in Country Kerry,
Ireland, just a few miles from my home. They were staying in a small guest house, and had set off early
on New Year’s Eve. When they didn’t return by the following morning, their host because worried and
called the police. (2)………..
I was just one of 12 volunteers who left our breakfast tables and set out to look for the missing hikers.
We pushed through strong winds and thick cloud, calling and listening over and over again. (3)………..
It was too cold to survive for long out on the mountains, and the hikers had been missing for a whole
day and night. (4)……….. I shouted out, and was relieved to hear a voice about back. (5)……….. They
were so happy to see us. They explained that they’d got lost, and the winds had been too strong for them
to keep walking. Luckily, they had warm clothes, food and the tent.
We led them back down the mountain and returned them to their guest house, where a delicious hot
meal was waiting for them and for the rescue volunteer team. They said that they’ll never forget that
New Year’s Day when they were rescued by local people who became heroes.
A The police called Kerry Mountain Rescue Team.
B The hikers were huddled together in a small tent between two large rocks.
C They said it’s extremely dangerous to go hiking in bad weather.
D Nobody answered back so we began to lose hope.
E We didn’t know they had already found their way home.
F Suddenly, I heard the sound of a whistle.
G We were just about to start eating when my phone rang.
H After searching all night, we gave up and went back home.
Cooper’s Hill Cheese Chase
Over the past few weeks we’ve been looking at the strange, sometimes dangerous festivals that take
place around the world. (1)……….. It’s here that every year, locals visit Cooper’s Hill and prepare to
chase a huge wheel of cheese down a very steep hill.
The event is based on an old tradition that goes back hundreds of years, with records of it taking place as
far back as the fifteenth century. Some people argue it started following the need of farmers to be able to
give their animals access to land. (2)………..
People crazy enough to take part chase a 4kg Double Gloucester cheese down the almost vertical slope
of the hill. The cheese can travel at over a hundred kilometres an hour and, as the organisers let it go a
few seconds before the runners start, the runners have very little chance of catching it. The hill is so
steep that competitors find it impossible to keep control of their run. (3)………..
After worries about people taking part safely, both the runners and those watching, the cheesemaker
who provides the cheese for the event was warned they could get into trouble. (4)……….. And for one
year the cheese was replaced with something else, although the event now continues to use the real
thing. (5)……….. They are told that they are responsible if they get injured during the race.
If you are brave enough to try the event, all you need to do is arrive on the day and go to the top of the
hill. There are a few races for men and women, as well as a children’s race which goes up hill.
A The police told them they could be breaking the law if anybody was injured.
B So it is often shown on TV.
C Others believe it was a way of welcoming the beginning of spring.
D On the other hand, most people who enter are younger.
E Almost immediately they all start falling to the bottom.
F Because of issues like these, organisers make sure runners understand the dangers.
G This week we’re visiting England, to a place called Gloucestershire.
H However, the cheese is made locally.
World Book Day – the test teen reads
by Genny Haslett, 24, English literature teacher at Bathampton Secondary School
It is often suggested that teachers and librarians aren’t pushing secondary school readers towards titles
that challenge them enough, and so the organisers of World Book Day have announced a list which
might provide some inspiration for anyone who’s stuck for ideas. This list of popular books for young
adults, voted for by 10,000 people across the UK, features a top 10 to ‘shape and inspire’ teenagers, and
handle some of the challenges of adolescence.
All but one of the books have already been made into films, demonstrating that when a book makes it to
the big screen, it often then acquires more readers thanks to the film’s success. Of course, this isn’t
always the case, as with George Orwell’s 1984, where the rather mediocre film does not compare so
favourably with the book’s ability to conjure up a dark vision of life in a police state.
James Bowen’s A Streetcat Named Bod, published in 2012, is one of the few relatively contemporary
books here. It’s also certainly for me the least predictable member of the list, but its extended stay on the
bestseller list earned it – and its author – a devoted following. It is the touching story of Bob, the cat
who helped a homeless man called James get his life back on track. Bob sits on James’s shoulder and
sleeps at his feet while he plays the guitar on the street, and soon becomes the centre of attention. What
makes the story particularly powerful is that it is based on author James Bowen’s real life.
Also on the list are J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter books. In this case it’s actually the whole series rather
than one particular title that makes the shortlist. Perhaps the judges struggled to agree which one book to
pick. For me, the books are rather more pre-teen than the rest of the books on the list, which are aimed at
a more mature readership.
But Harry Potter is a special case: as Harry gets older in each successive book in the series, the stories
do become more complex and darker. In a way, readers themselves grow up with Harry and his friends.
Rowling asks some tough questions about standing up to authority, challenging ‘normal’ views and
many other subjects close to teenage readers’ hearts. This should get rid of the idea that the whole series
is just for young kids. In actual fact, half of all Harry Potter readers are over the age of 35, but that’s
another story.
The list goes right back to the nineteenth century with Charlotte Bronte’s great romance Jane Eyre,
showing that some books never grow old, though the majority are twentieth-century works such as Anne
Frank’s heartbreaking wartime memoir The Diary of a Young Girl, which even now I find hard to get
through without shedding tears. Personally, I would have swapped J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the
Rings for one of the many classics that didn’t make the final selection, Lord of the Flies perhaps,
William Golding’s nightmare vision of schoolboys stuck on an island.
Of course there’ll always be some choices we don’t agree with, but that’s what I think makes a list like
this so fascinating. I’ve been using it with my class of 16-year-olds, and I got them to evaluate it and
make other suggestions for what to include or how it could be changed. But what I hope can really make
a lasting difference is if it stimulates them to try out writers on the list, perhaps ones they haven’t come
across before, and be introduced to new styles of writing.
1 What criticism does the writer make in the first paragraph?
A World Book Day has been poorly organised.
B School librarians aren’t working hard enough.
C Teenagers are reading books that are too easy.
D Teachers don’t encourage pupils to read enough.
2 What point is made about books which are made into films?
A The best books tend to be made into films.
B The film of a book makes more people read the book.
C Many people prefer to watch a film than read the book.
D It is useful to be able to compare the book and the film.
3 What does the writer suggest about A Streetcat Named Bob?
A She is surprised that it is on the list.
B The book did not sell as well as it deserved to.
C It is the most recently published book on the list.
D It is the only autobiography on the list.
4 How does the writer justify the presence of the Harry Potter books on the list?
A The books’ fame can help the list get more attention.
B The later books in the series are more suitable for teenagers.
C Teenagers should read books that they will also enjoy as adults.
D It makes sense to have a whole series as well as individual books.
5 Which book does the writer feel shouldn’t be on the list?
A Jane Eyre
B The Diary of a Young Girl
C The Lord of the Rings
D Lord of the Flies
6 What does the writer intend to do?
A be more fully developed in future
B prompt pupils to read more widely
C enable pupils to write more effectively
D provide a useful topic for discussion in class
Open-air teaching In Germany
A bold experiment in education that aims to help young students become independent thinkers
In 2013, Wolfgang Schwarz became Assistant Headteacher at a Hamburg school. It was a conventional
school: teachers taught lessons that pupils had to attend, and set compulsory homework for pupils. The
school taught all the usual subjects from English to maths. The Senior Management team told the
teachers what to do, and the teachers told the pupils what to do.
Shortly after this, Schwarz read an article about open-air schools, whose aim is to encourage children to
be more independent and develop important life skills in a natural setting. (1)………… This is in
contrast to more traditional schools like where Schwarz was working, where (according to critics) the
focus is too much on the teaching and learning of factual information, and where children aren’t given
enough opportunity to learn how to think for themselves. They maintain the physical limitations of the
classroom stop students learning naturally. Learning outside, in a forest or on a beach encourages
students to think more about the world around them.
However, there were only a small number of outdoor schools across Germany. (2)………… In 2014,
that is exactly what he did, and the Hamburg Outdoor School was born. With four teachers and 42
children aged between 4 and 18, Schwarz’s school had a small building set in large grounds near a beach
and private forest. Now they use the areas outside the school more than the old classrooms. Most lessons
take place outside.
What actually makes it an ‘outdoor’ school? How does it work in practice? (3)………… There are no
tests and no homework you have to do, although some parents have, additionally, set their children
academic tasks to complete away from school.
The curriculum is certainly not conventional. (4)………… Last year, the students sampled more than 80
different subjects, learning some maths, history and physics in the process.
And some of the teaching is done by the students themselves, such as a course on geology, taught by 13-
year-old Dieter Altmann, which has become one of the most popular at the school. Other subjects range
from juggling to fishing techniques.
However, student independence isn’t just limited as to how the children actually do their learning. (5)
………… At these sessions, anything can be discussed, ranging from discipline issues to deciding who
should be allowed to start at the school. Everyone, from the youngest child to the school Headteacher,
has an equal vote in all this. All decisions are made democratically, so the teachers can be outvoted by
the children theoretically; this is something which does happen from time to time. The key question is
this: does a school with optional lessons and student-led courses on juggling really provide students with
the best start in life? (6)………… Accepting that students in normal schools may become better at
certain skills, he maintains that children can learn facts much better in a natural environment through
experimentation and observation. ‘If you learn out of the classroom in the natural world, it makes
learning more meaningful and memorable’.
A Schwarz is convinced that it can.
B But Schwarz never saw this as a problem.
C These include critical thinking and the ability to socialise.
D Simple: the children make the rules, choose their classes and where to work.
E They basically run the school too, through their weekly discussion meetings.
F So this got Schwarz thinking: why not open one himself?
G The pupils study rare crafts like soap-making, and Mr Schwarz has even taught classes in cheese-
tasting.
Which teenager
1 says they are highly motivated?
2 has started to feel more confident?
3 is planning to open another business?
4 says that managing time can be hard?
5 says they learn from their mistakes?
6 says that their age surprises some people?
7 tends not to tell people how old they are?
8 wanted to improve an experience for customers?
9 says their work involves something they find easy?
10 realised what they wanted to do while helping someone else?
Four teenage business stars
A Rebecca Dundee, 16
I suppose it was obvious I had a head for business when I was about six. I used to make my parents cups
of tea in the morning – and charge them 20p for each one. And it was another 20p if it needed reheating.
And then about a year ago I was in a chain coffee shop waiting in line to get my drink, and I just realised
how dreadful the whole experience was – dirty tables, rubbish Wifi and grumpy staff. And I thought ‘I
bet I could do better than that’. So a friend and I launched an app enabling people to access menus, order
and interact with each other. Since then I haven’t looked back. I was concerned that I wasn’t doing too
well at school, which was a bit depressing, but with the business going so well, it feels great to be where
I am now.
B Jimbo, 15
When people ask what I do, I tell them I advise people about their brand on social media. They can’t
believe I’m doing this while I’m so young. But I love it. The tricky bit is getting everything done that I
need to; sometimes there aren’t enough hours in the day! I’ve been doing the job about six months, and
it took quite a lot of effort at the start to persuade my mum and dad that it wasn’t just a waste of time.
But now they’re confident I’m doing OK. Which is just as well, because now that I’ve launched an
online magazine, I should have several more projects on the way, as long as I can get the money
together. One’s going to be setting up a firm with my best mate – it should start to do quite well after
about a year. So watch this space!
C Sarah McFinny, 18
Using social media comes naturally to me, and it’s not something I’ve ever had to try to get my head
around. I’m in my first year at uni, and I was lending a hand to someone who wanted to organise a social
media campaign for a university sports club. I did lots of work for her, setting it up and publicising it,
and she couldn’t believe the results I got. It was amazing! So I thought, ‘You know what – I could make
some money out of doing this sort of thing’. When I’m talking to clients, obviously I don’t shout about
my age, I mean you want to be taken seriously. When I graduate, I want to help my parents run their
business, or at least do that part-time. I’m excited about the future.
D Duncan Jackson, 15
Well, I’ve never liked spending money, even at a really young age. But now that I’ve worked out how to
make money, I’m really driven to get out of bed every morning and make as much as I can. I basically
run an online shop, and I’ve had over 100 customers so far. It’s always nice when a customer visits the
store and buys from you again – you know you’re doing something right. I don’t always get things right
though. In fact, there are lots of things I’ve got very wrong, like setting my prices too high – or too low!
But that can be useful, because when something doesn’t go as planned, you can always adapt and hope
you do it better next time.