progress test
B
Unit 5
2 Are the sentences true or false?
Reading
The writer says that ...
1 Read the text.
1 there should be more good news
programmes on TV. T / F
Bad news  every day!
2 the presenters do not do a good job. T / F
Today s complaint is from Mr P K Lipton in Somerset
3 you can t report news properly in a
and concerns news bulletins.
limited time. T / F
News bulletins
4 the bulletins often don t tell him
How often should we be given news updates on TV?
anything new. T / F
Traditionally the viewing public has had fairly regular
news updates on most major channels in comprehensive
5 he sometimes thinks they re going to
hour or half hour long programmes that bring us a range
announce bad news. T / F
of different information and opinions about important
Mark /10
newsworthy events from our own country and around
the world. We all know the times of these programmes
so we can choose what and when we want to watch.
Vocabulary
In addition to these news programmes there are, of
course, the channels dedicated to 24-hour news coverage.
3 Replace the words in italics with one word.
What is putting my back up at the moment is a new
supplement to the regular programmes  60 second news
1 Share prices have gone up and down a lot this
bulletins, hourly during the evening.
month. f
I imagine this has come about because the news bosses
2 The photographers chased the pop star
think we shall all be thrilled to get a news update every
through the park. p
hour but I have to say that not everyone is enamoured of
3 He waited for four hours outside her house,
the new system  myself included!
only to get her autograph. s
There are several reasons why I feel this way. Firstly,
60 seconds is a very short length of time and there are
4 The new boss was extremely hard and sacked
usually several major points they wish to tell us about.
50% of his staff to save money.
However talented the news presenters are, they cannot
r
avoid sounding rushed as they try to read everything
5 The companies had a secret agreement with
within the time limit. Because of this speed of delivery,
each other to keep the prices high. c
you usually find that there is no time for any space
between items. The result of this is that one item follows
Mark /5
on immediately from another and there is no pause
to indicate that one item has finished and another has
4 Complete the sentences with the words in the box.
begun. This can be both confusing and slightly amusing!
Secondly, most evenings the news doesn t change radically surge quit pledged back looming
within an hour so the bulletins end up repeating the
axed ban bid plea boost
same items again and again. Sometimes there is a change
in presenter in order to give the illusion of new news
1 The police have made a to
but in effect it is the same bulletin as an hour ago. Why
commuters not to travel in these storms.
bother?
2 The to take over the failing
Thirdly, I consider this an intrusion into my evening s
viewing. Yes, news is important and I choose when I wish bank has been unsuccessful.
to watch it. When I sit down to watch a film or a soap
3 The government is going to the
opera, I want to relax. I do not want to be interrupted
police s move to install more speed cameras.
in this way. Even now, when I should be expecting it, the
bulletins still come as a surprise and I half expect some
4 The on cigarette smoking in
terrible breaking news.
public places has been in place for over a year.
Maybe I am a grumpy old man but in my opinion news
5 People are worried that a lot of jobs at the
has a time and a place and it s not every hour while I m
factory will be next year.
trying to relax!
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progress test
A
B
Unit
Unit 5
6 Financial experts fear that a recession in world 2  I won t speak to her because she doesn t
listen to anything I say. (refuse)
economies is .
He
7 A in prices means that fewer
first-time buyers can afford to buy a house.
8 The new head teacher has
.
to update all the classroom computers.
3  I can assure you that I won t be late for the
9 The new line in designer clothing should appointment. (promise)
definitely sales at the store.
He
10 There are rumours that Gary Giles is to
.
the boyband Brigade this month.
4  I think the result will be 3 4 to Southampton.
Mark /10
(predict)
She
Grammar .
5  I m sorry, but the service I received was just
5 Find the mistakes in the sentences and correct
not good enough. (complain)
them.
He
1 My sister admitted eat all the biscuits.
.
6  If you don t work harder your grades will fall.
(warn)
2 Jake told that he loved English folk music.
She
.
7  Yes, we ll provide the music for your party at
3 I asked Becky what was the time.
the fee you suggest. (agree)
He
.
4 The teacher asked me where I had been today.
8  I really think you should audition for the
school play. (encourage)
She
5 Helen suggested to meet in the park at 12.30. .
9  I m really sorry I missed the meeting but the
train was delayed. (apologise)
She
Mark /5
.
10  I didn t say that I was going to raise salaries
6 Rewrite the sentences in reported speech using
immediately. (deny)
the correct form of the verbs in brackets.
He
1  Let s go out for a meal after you finish work.
(suggest)
.
She
Mark /10
.
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progress test
A
B
Unit
Unit 5
Listening
7 4.05 Listen to two people talking about TV
d"
news. Are the sentences true or false?
1 The female speaker is feeling depressed. T / F
2 Newspapers make things seem worse
than they are. T / F
3 The BBC shows strange news items in
its programmes. T / F
4 The baby was thrown out by the force of
the fire. T / F
5 A baby was mistaken for a toy. T / F
Mark /10
Writing
8 Write a review of a film you have seen recently.
Use the writing guide to help you.
Paragraph 1: Give some information about the
film.
Paragraph 2: Describe the plot.
Paragraph 3: Say what impressed you about the
film.
Paragraph 4: Say what you didn t like about the
film.
Paragraph 5: Say whether you would recommend
it or not.
Mark /10
Total /60
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