ENGLISH WRITTEN TEST March 2006

9TH FORM

I.

Read the following text carefully.

CAREERS IN ENGLISH
How can you put your English language skills to use in
a career? Whats it like to work in an English-speaking
country? Well try to find out the answers to these
questions by meeting a non-native English speaker,
Christianne Hermann, who moved to England from
Pirmansens, in southeast Germany. She now works as
a German teacher in a business college just outside
London.
Q: What was your first job in the UK?
A: I was an assistant German teacher at an all-girls school in Manchester. I wanted to stay there because
it is a small but very friendly city, with lots of students. Unfortunately, there were not many
opportunities for work there, so I got a job in London as a writer and editor for a German magazine. I
was therefore using English as well as my first language, and the job was a real dream come true for me.
Q: What were your first impressions of England?
A: I have become very attached to this country now, and consider it to be almost home. In Manchester, I
was living with a family, and found it very easy to meet people. I think the biggest culture shock for me
came when I moved to London. I was very keen to fit in, but that is far more difficult in a larger city.
Q: What are the most difficult things to get used to?
A: It is hard to imagine living here long term, because there is such a large part of you that you cannot
share with the English. I dont have the same background or culture as an English person, and sometimes
that can be a problem.

A Write a synonym or explanation for these words taken from the text.
1. attached

: ________________________________________________________________________

2. share

: ________________________________________________________________________

3. background : ________________________________________________________________________

B Are these statements true or false? Correct the false ones.

1. Christianne is an English teacher who works in Germany. ________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
2. She started working in the UK as a writer._____________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
3. She moved from Manchester because it is a small city.___________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
4. She doesnt like England very much._________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
5. It wasnt easy for Christianne to get used to living in London. _____________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

C Answer these questions. Use your own words as far as possible.

1. How did Christianne use her English language skills in her career? _________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

2. Why was it more difficult for her to get used to living in London than in Manchester? __________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

3. Why cant she imagine living in London for a long time? ________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

4. Would you like to work in a foreign country? Why? Why not? (write about 30 words on it)
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

II.
Rewrite the following sentences as given.
1. I like my school.
She said __________________________________________________________________________
2. They dont know the school rules.
The headmaster said _________________________________________________________________
3. Dont speak so loud!
I advised them _____________________________________________________________________
4. He cant control the situation.
They said _________________________________________________________________________
5. She has published a novel.
They said _________________________________________________________________________
6. Dont forget my advice.
I advised her _______________________________________________________________________
7. You neednt repeat the questions.
The teacher said ____________________________________________________________________
8. I must see him now.
She said __________________________________________________________________________
9. Hurry up if you want to go with me.
He told Jane _______________________________________________________________________
10. A young scientist will reach the moon next year.
They said _________________________________________________________________________
11. You must leave the country at once.
They said that I_____________________________________________________________________
12. The farmers are facing difficult problems.
He said ___________________________________________________________________________

III.
Choose one of the following topics and write 80-100 words on it.
1. Describe your dream job.
2. Christianne had to write a letter of application to apply for her position as a writer and editor fr a
German magazine in London. Imagine you are Christianne and write the letter of application. You
can make up any missing information.

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Good Luck!!
Maria Jos Ribeiro