8/14/2019 TEST A DEC KEY

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/test-a-dec-key 1/41/3

ENGLISH TEST (PROGRESS CHECK)

Name: ………………………………………………………………..…….. Year/Class……….…... Date: 4 Dec 2009

READING SKILLS :

WRITING SKILLS : You need to revise:- Vocabulary - Dependent prepositions - Connectors- Conditionals

School bans mirrors in crackdown on makeupDavid Smith - The Observer , Sunday 16 July 2006

What to do about teenage girls, and their apparent obsession with bodyimage and beauty products, is a source of anxiety for parents and teachers.Some schools have tried to ban certain items of clothing. Now one has gonefurther by denying pupils the slightest chance to reflect on their looks.

5 Girls at King Solomon High School in Ilford, Essex, were astonished to go intotheir toilets three months ago and find the mirrors had been unscrewed andremoved. The school believed that up to a hundred of its girls were spendingtoo much time in front of the mirrors doing their make-up when they shouldhave been in lessons.

The girls got their revenge by sneaking into the boys' loos and using their

mirrors. So the school countered by taking those away too. Pupils threateneda demonstration and some parents have expressed anger at the decision,but the head teacher remains unrepentant.

Kourtney Shaw, 15, a pupil at the school, said: 'It wasn't fair because only asmall number of girls were taking time out of lessons to put on make-up. Theboys were annoyed because they were being punished. It hasn't really madea difference because people bring in their own hand mirrors anyway.'

She was supported by her mother, Lindsey, who said: 'What if you need tolook in the mirror, what if you've got something in your eye? I've never heard

anything so silly. They're going to wear make-up anyway and can hide handmirrors in their purse.'

Rabbi James Kennard, who is head teacher of King Solomon, a 900-pupil Jewish school, defended the no-mirrors policy. 'The school rules prohibit thewearing of make-up in school because it is felt to be inappropriate andunnecessary for a learning environment. We were faced with a situationwhere young girls were putting on significant amounts of make-up andtaking time out of lessons to do so. So we removed the mirrors, to bereturned at a later date.'

Kennard admitted that the move went down badly with his pupils. 'There wasa bit of fuss. There was going to be a protest but it fizzled out. A smallminority thought the way to respond was to make the situation worse by

10

15

20

25

8/14/2019 TEST A DEC KEY

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/test-a-dec-key 2/4

1/3

leaving graffiti in the toilets. We explained to the students that a responsibleattitude would get the mirrors back.'

Answer the following questions.

1. What type of text is this? Justify your answer.

This is news report. The source is a newspaper, The Observer. It tells about a recentevent at a school.

2. What do the underlined words refer to:

a. their (l. 4) pupils b. those (l. 10) mirrors (at boy’s loos)

c. it (l. 21) wearing of make-up inschool

d. so (l. 23) put on make-up

3. Find synonyms for the following words/expressions (Paragraphs 1-3):

a. forbid b. incredulous c. toilets d. going quietly

ban astonished loos sneaking

4. Find out who says:

a. Taking away the mirrors was an unjust measure.

___________________ Kourtney Shaw ________________________________

b. Girls will always find a way of doing what they want.

_________________ Kourtney Shaw and her mother Lindsey ___________________________

c. The mirrors will be put back as long as the students behave responsibly.

_________________ Rabbi James Kennard (the headmaster) _____________________________

5. Complete the following sentences according to the text.

a. Many girls are obsessed with their looks and that’s why they put on somuch make-up and spend so much time looking at mirrors, and skiplessons.

b. Although both parents and students protested against the measure, thehead master thinks this measure had to be taken .

8/14/2019 TEST A DEC KEY

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/test-a-dec-key 3/4

1/3

c. While some students protested quietly others were planning ademonstration and a few did some graffiti.

6. Find 3 examples of nouns or verbs that are followed by a dependentpreposition. (Parag. 1-3)

a._ obsession with b. reflect on c. anger at

7. Imagine you are the President of the Student Union at King SolomonHigh School.

Write a letter to Rabbi James Kennard letting him know what the studentsfeel regarding the ban on mirrors and proposing some measures to solve theproblem that caused this controversial measure.

You should use at least one conditional sentence.

Follow the guidelines on how to write a transactional letter. Write about 120-150 words.

__ 24 July 2006 ___

Dear Headmaster , (Dear Rabbi, Dear Mr Kennard,)

I am writing, on behalf of the students, to express my disagreement regarding your

decision to ban mirrors in this school.

If it is true that some girls spend too much time putting on make-up and that, in

some cases, disturbs their concentration it is also true that this problem can hardly

be solved by removing all the mirrors. Actually, this measure can even contribute to

make things worse as we, young people, like to cross the line and disobey.

We, at the Union, feel we can help solve the problem. We believe a meeting should

be held with all teachers and students and limits discussed. If we feel we are part of

the solution and find some compromise we will be able to behave responsibly.

Looking forward to listening from you

Yours sincerely

8/14/2019 TEST A DEC KEY

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/test-a-dec-key 4/4

1/3

Helen Stubbs