NAME:

DATE:
COURSE:
WRITTEN TEST
Unit 2

1) You are going to read an article about family mealtimes. For questions 1-15,
choose from the people (A-E). The people may be chosen more than once. When
more than one answer is required, these may be given in any order.
If you find family meals tense
and unpleasant, you're not
alone. Alan Jefferson
explains.
The nation's eating habits
have changed and many
families no longer eat
together on a regular basis.
To be honest, this doesnt
strike me as particularly
surprising. Lunchtime last
Sunday in my own home
consisted of my two-year-old
son happily throwing his food
on the floor whilst yet again
his older brother and sister
protested loudly about the
vegetables they were being
made to eat.
Despite the noise and
chaos, though, we still prefer
to have meals as a family. On
weekdays that's difficult as
there are too many things
going on and there just isnt
enough time for me and my
wife to sit with the children at
breakfast. Only our youngest
is with his mother for lunch
and the children's supper is
too early for me to
participate. But we do our
best at weekends.
If, as some research shows,
parents now talk to their
children for an average of
just 12 minutes a day, then
our decision to eat together
as much as possible is more
than justified. Whilst the
quality of the kitchen table
chat is not particularly high
a mixture of bad jokes, song
lyrics and gossip we are at
least communicating, which
is the main thing, so it
doesn't matter to me what
the topic of conversation is.
Of course, family meals can
be tense and we don't always
see eye to eye. But for me,

arguing together is an
essential part of family
life and all part of
learning to get on with
each other.
Gerry, a 35-year-old
father of two young
girls, would not agree.
He had enough of
stressful family meals
as a child and now sees
them as both
impractical and
undesirable.
I hardly ever get home
early enough to eat with my
kids, but I dont particularly
mind that. It has a lot to do
with my own childhood
memories. Mealtimes were
very formal occasions, and
they provided my parents
with the opportunity to
interrogate me about
everything Id done that day. I
used to feel very
uncomfortable. Later, during
my teenage years, the meal
table became the scene of
terrible rows. Of course, Id
like to spend less time
rushing around and more
time with my family, but I
dont miss family meals at
all.
Andrew finds family meals
difficult, but necessary.
Were always having rows,
particularly when the kids
start moaning about whats
on their plate, he says.
Trying to keep everyone
happy isnt easy, especially
with three children under
nine who all have different
tastes and a teenage
stepdaughter who would
much rather be eating her
dinner on the sofa in front of
the TV. But eating with others
is an important social skill. I
want my children to get used

to doing it in the home so

that they will know how to
eat in public.
James, the father of two
teenage boys, says: The
older my kids become, the
less contact I have with them
and the more important
family meals become.
Theyre often the only
opportunity we get to talk.
As a travelling sales
representative, James is
responsible for his own time
management and he tries to
organize his appointments in
such a way that he can return
to his Liverpool home in time
for dinner with his family at
7:00 pm. Ive made it a
priority, he says, because I
feel that mealtimes are an
important point of family
contact.
So have Ben and Angela,
who manage to get their four
children aged 5 to 16 around
the table for weekend family
meals. We try to keep
everyone at the table for at
least half an hour on
Saturdays and Sundays. We
have a telly in the kitchen but
the kids arent allowed to
have it on when we are
eating there that would
make the whole thing rather
pointless, says Ben.

NAME:

DATE:
COURSE:
WRITTEN TEST
Unit 2

He recalls a recent trip to

the States, where his
American friends had the
television on all day.

A- The writer

Different members of the

family would wander in at
different times, grab
something from the fridge

and eat alone, always in front

of the TV. I think its a shame
that Britain is becoming
much more like that now.

B- Gerry C- Andrew D- James

E - Ben

-Which of the people A-E

sees the positive side of arguments at the meal

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20
table?

is influenced by past experiences?

doesnt let his children watch television at
mealtimes?
doesnt mind what his children talk about?
says his family argues at mealtimes?
doesnt see as much of his children as he used to?
rarely eats with his children?
says his family eat all together only on certain days?
sees family meals as preparation for eating in other
situations?
organizes his working day to be with his family for

meals?

has children who complain about what they have to

eat?

would prefer not to be doing things in a hurry so

often?

2) Complete the sentences using the correct form of the word in capitals.
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1) These _________can be observed among many children who have lost a parent or other loved one.
BEHAVE
2) These chemicals can be very __________, so take care when using them. HARM
3) Jenny is far more __________ than I am. CAUTION
4) His idea is totally __________. He'll never be able to do it. REAL
5) She wasn't very __________ when I told her about my accident. SYMPATHY

NAME:

DATE:
COURSE:
WRITTEN TEST
Unit 2

6) We're __________ that we'll get into the university we want. HOPE
7) He's totally __________. He never does what he says he will do. RELY
8) We knew what he was going to do before he did it. He's so __________. PREDICT
3) Choose words from each box to complete the sentences. Use the verbs in the correct
tense.
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12
TURN / TAKE / LOOK / GET RID / GET / SORT OUT / AWAY / OF / UP / OFF / UP TO
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)

They __________ their old car last week and bought a new one.
Our album really ________________ last year when our song was chosen for a film.
We ___________________ for a few days last week and just relaxed.
We __________________ the problems before we left so nobody had to worry about anything.
John _________________ his older sister when he was a child. He thought she was amazing.
Look who's ______________! It's Sarah. We didnt think she was coming.

4) Choose the option A, B, C or D that best completes the paragraph.

/7

We had to work _____ hard to make a success of our business. We _____ admit that at times we
argued with each other and sometimes we were _____ furious with each other. Nevertheless, we
stuck together and _____ things have been going very _____. If you look at this year's results _____,
you can see what we mean. We _____ have any time to argue these days.
1) A absolutely B a bit C very
D
much
2 ) A free
B fairly
C freely
D
quite
3) A dreadfully
B absolutely
C fairly
D very
4 ) A recent
B lately
C hardly
D close

5) A well
B good
much
6) A closely
B nearly
D freely
7) A absolutely B quite
lately

C hard

C completely
C hardly

5) Put the verb in brackets in the correct form.

Jake regretted __________ (not work) harder to pass his exams. He didn't study
hard enough to go to university because he couldn't stop __________ (go) out
with his friends when he should have been studying. However, he remembers
one of his teachers __________ (say) that it was never too late to learn new
things. So when he was offered the chance __________ (sail) around the world,
he said yes without __________ (think) twice.
The boat owner promised
__________ (teach) him all about boats and sailing and made him __________ (do)
everything over and over again until he could do it perfectly. Although it took him
ages __________ (get) it right, he finally succeeded. Now he has his own boat
charter business in the Caribbean and has an amazing life.

/8

/
11

6) Fill in the blanks with a suitable contrast connector

One advantage of, WHEREAS, BUT, ALTHOUGH, HOWEVER, DESPITE, INSPITE OF,
ON THE OTHER HAND, FURTHERMORE
1._____________ Andrew was warned of the risks, he decided to travel alone to
South America.
2. Maria did not get a promotion ______________ her qualifications.
3. Zambia is a land- locked country, ____________ Kenya has a coastline.
4. On the one hand, you could rent a flat instead of buying one. __________ you are
always at the mercy of landlords.
5. This restaurant has a good reputation, ______________ that one does not.
6. The city has a 50 kph limit. __________________, people are often caught
speeding.
7. You wont be forgiven ___________________ your apology.
8.We couldnt find a house to buy _______________we looked at quite a few.
9.He is quiet and shy, _________________ his sister is lively and talkative
10. _______________reality TV is that it shows normal people. We can discover
talented people on it. ___________, we can vote for the ones we like the most.
7) Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the
first sentence. You must use between two and five words, including the
word given.
1) Olivia became successful in films when she was still a teenager. MADE
Olivia __________________________ in films when she was still a teenager.
2) Theres a good chance that I will pass my English exam with flying colours.
VERY

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It ______________ I will pass my English exam with flying colours.

3) Sophia has always been frightened of spiders. COMPLETELY
Sophia has always been _________________ of spiders.
4) Richard was determined to win the swimming competition. HEART
Richard _____________________ on winning the competition

8) WRITING
Write an essay giving the advantages and disadvantages of having a
younger sibling. Write 140-160 words.