Listening Comprehension Test for 11th Form Students

The Birdmen
Today, it is hard for us to understand what people thought when they first heard that men had
flown. Mostly, if they hadn't seen it themselves, they didn't believe it. Why, if people were foolish
enough to say men could fly, the next thing they might say was that someday men would walk on
the moon!
But on December 17, 1903, two men flew. They were brothers from Dayton, Ohio, and they
owned a bicycle shop. They had attended school, but neither had graduated from high school. Their
names were Wilbur and Orville Wright. It was not luck that made them the first people in all of
history to build and fly an airplane that lifted off the ground with its own power. It was hard work
and determination. Before they built the plane they studied all that was known about flying. They
thought, argued, and experimented. They built a wind tunnel and tested 200 differently shaped
wings. Then they drew plans and built carefully.
On that windy December day, Orville won the toss of a coin. He got to fly first, lying flat on his
stomach on the wing of the kite-like biplane. Wilbur ran beside him; the plane lifted a few feet
above the sand and stayed in the air for 17 seconds. The brothers took turns and flew four flights
that day. The longest lasted 59 seconds. It was enough. They had flown. The men from the lifeboat
station had seen them and taken a picture.
The headlines in the morning newspaper in nearby Norfolk, Virginia – the Virginian Pilot – told
of the flight, although most of the details in the story were wrong. The brothers were upset about
the poor reporting, but it didn't much matter: no one paid attention, and other newspapers didn't
carry the story. No one understood that birds now had competition: people would soon be flying.
Orville and Wilbur went home to Dayton and set to work. They knew they could fly, but they
also knew their plane needed improving. They flew around a big pasture in Ohio. Neighbors saw
them and talked about the flights. In 1904 a group of newspaper reporters came to see for
themselves.
Now, the Wright brothers were not daredevils. They were very methodical and precise. They did
everything as well as they could. They checked and tested and checked and tested again, each time
they flew. That made sense.
When the reporters arrived, the brothers were having mechanical problems with the plane. The
reporters stayed two days. The Wright brothers wouldn't fly on those days; the plane wasn't ready.
The reporters left. Some wrote that the Wright brothers were fakes.
One writer did stay and saw them fly. He was the editor of a special journal. The first long
article about the Wright brothers' flight was in a beekeepers' magazine!
In September of 1908, in Virginia, Orville showed Americans that people could fly. He lifted his
plane into the air and swung around an army field one and a half times before he landed. The crowd
of watchers rushed forward "screaming as loudly as they could, overwhelmed by the miracle that
had taken place before their eyes".
Try to imagine that scene in 1908. For thousands and thousands of years, men and women
looked at birds and dreamed that they too could lift themselves into the air. Some tried. Mythical
Icarus, back in ancient days, took birds' feathers and a frame and made something like a hang
glider. But when he soared into the air the sun melted the wax that held the feathers and Icarus fell
into the sea. Others, who we know were real, had built gliders, or hot-air balloons that floated on
the wind. What the Wrights did was different. They didn't depend on the wind. They used their
intelligence to build a machine that conquered the skies. They solved the problem of flight. Now
everyone believed it – people could fly!
 Listening Comprehension Test for 11th Form Students

Remember: you are not allowed to take notes at any time when the text is being read to you.

I. Listen to the text and decide whether these statements are true or false and mark one.
1. People have always believed that men can fly.
2. Orville and Wilbur Wright owned a shop that sold bicycles.
3. They were the first men to fly because they were very lucky.
4. Orville was the first to fly because he won the toss of a coin.
5. Orville and Wilbur were hard-working students of flight.
6. Orville was lying flat on the wing when flying his first flight.
7. The brothers were pleased with what the reporters wrote about their flight.
8. The first long article about the Wright brothers' flight was in a beekeepers’ magazine.
9. In Virginia, Orville flew around an Army field 2 times to prove he could fly.
10. The Wright brothers' depended on the wind to help them fly their plane.

II. Listen to the text and choose one answer for each question.
11. Orville and Wilbur...
a) graduated from high school;
b) didn't finish high school;
c) graduated from vocational school;
d) the article doesn't say.
12. Their first flight was...
a) on a sunny day; c) on a rainy and windy day;
b) on a snowy day; d) on a windy December day.
13. Orville got to fly the plane first because ...
a) he won the coin toss;
b) he could run faster than Wilbur;
c) he had more courage than Wilbur had;
d) he convinced Wilbur he should be first.
14. The newspaper article that appeared about their first flight...
a) was also carried by many other newspapers;
b) pleased Orville and Wilbur very much;
c) was talked about by everyone;
d) had most of the details wrong.
15. When people saw the brothers’ flight over the field, they were …
a) screaming as loudly as they could;
b) laughing and jumping;
c) waving their hands;
d) frightened and shocked.
 Listening Comprehension Test for 11th Form Students

ANSWER SHEET
I. Decide if each of the 10 statements is true or false and mark one.

1 2 3 4 5

T F T F T F T F T F

6 7 8 9 10

T F T F T F T F T F

II. Mark the correct letter A, B, C or D.

11 12 13 14 15

A B C D A B C D A B C D A B C D A B C D
 Reading Comprehension Test for 11th Form Students

Read the information from the Manchester Shopping Guide.

"If you're looking for the best shopping choice in the North West, then City Centre
Manchester is the right place."
Whatever you are shopping for, you'll almost certainly find it in City Centre Manchester. You'll find
more choice and your shopping will be more enjoyable in City Centre Manchester - where you're
right in the heart of things.
"Let's start with one of the main shopping thoroughfares in the City - Market Street."
Market Street has now been pedestrianised and runs from Piccadilly Gardens down to the road
known as Deansgate. Here, you'll find many famous top-name department stores, chain stores and a
host of other shops, offering everything from the latest fashions and the tops of the pops, to
household goods, holidays abroad and somewhere to eat. While you're in the area, don't miss the
Market Centre, a large underground market in Spring Gardens, off Market Street.
"Manchester's most exclusive shopping areas."
King Street, St. Ann's Square and Deansgate. Here you'll find unusual shops, both large and
small, including leading fashion houses, jewellers, booksellers and shops selling traditional and
modern furnishings, plus another of Manchester's top department stores. St. Ann's Square has now
been tastefully pedestrianised, complementing the quality shops. A pavement cafe is a new feature. 
The Royal Exchanga Shopping Centre, between St. Ann's Square and Cross Street, is housed in
the historic Royal Exchange Building next to the Royal Exchange Theatre. It is a fascinating centre
for exclusive fashions, arts, crafts and specialist shops selling top quality merchandise.
"The Arndale Centre -  probably the largest covered shopping area in Europe."
The Arndale Centre has to be seen to be believed. Wide, air-conditioned boulevards on two levels
lead you in comfort around the major scores and 200 smaller shops and eating places, whatever the
weather. You'll also find the High Street Market within the Arndale Centre. This covered market
has nearly 200 stalls offering foods and a complete range of goods at bargain prices. The Arndale
Centre is easy to get to, with parking for 1,800 cars, and an adjoining bus station. 
Chinatown. Situated between Piccadilly and Princess Street. Chinatown offers a wealth of Chinese
restaurants, speciality supermarkets and gift shops.

Decide if each of the 10 statements is true or false and mark one.

1. This leaflet describes a new shopping area just outside Manchester.
2. You can reach Market Street by going along Deansgate.
3. The Market Centre is built below ground.
4. King Street has a large fruit market.
5. The pavement café in St. Ann's Square has just been opened.
6. The Royal Exchange Shopping Centre is inside an old building.
7. The Arndale Centre is built on three floors.
8. The High Street Market is in the square next to the Arndale Centre.
9. There are more than 200 stalls in the High Street Market.
10. You can park your car in the Arndale Centre.
 Reading Comprehension Test for 11th Form Students

ANSWER SHEET
Decide if each of the 10 statements is true or false and mark one.

1 2 3 4 5

T F T F T F T F T F

6 7 8 9 10

T F T F T F T F T F
 Writing Comprehension Test for 11th Form Students

Choose one of the three suggested topics and comment on it.

1. What does the expression “good things come to those who wait” mean to you and how have
you seen this in your own life? Use examples and details to illustrate your response.
2. Education made us what we are. Comment on the importance of education in our changing
world.
3. Should there be a dress code in places such as school, restaurants, and places of business?
Why or why not?

Speaking Comprehension Test for 11th Form Students

Students should select a topic, take a short time to prepare and then present an unmemorized
speech which fully covers all aspects of the topic.
1. You are taking a job interview. What would you tell about yourself, your interests, and hobbies?
2. What differences are there between your generation and your parents’ generation? Think about
these things: tastes in music/clothes, films; interests/hobbies; attitudes to life.
3. What is a very important skill a person should learn in order to be successful in the world today?
Choose one skill and use specific reasons and examples to support your choice.
4. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Television has destroyed
communication among friends and family. Use specific reasons and examples to support your
opinion.
5. It is hard to imagine a world without all the modern conveniences we have become so
accustomed to. What do you think has been the most influential invention of all times? Why?
Where would we be without this invention today?
6. You are going on a trip to another country. How would you plan your trip? Where would
you go? Would you travel more for adventure, to learn or to see historical sights?
7. Mobile phones, chatting on the net and email have changed a lot about how people
communicate. Describe what forms of modern communication you use. What negative impacts has
the loss of face-to-face communication had?
8. Some people spend their entire lives in one place. Others move a number of times throughout
their lives, looking for a better job, house, community, or even climate. Which do you prefer:
staying in one place or moving in search of another place? Use reasons and specific examples to
support your opinion.
9. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement: With the help of technology students
nowadays can learn more information and learn it more quickly. Use specific reasons and examples
to support your answer.
10. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement: One should never judge a person by
external appearances. Use specific reasons and details to support your answer.
11. Some people prefer to spend their free time outdoors. Other people prefer to spend their
leisure time indoors. Would you prefer to be outside or would you prefer to be inside for your
leisure activities? Use specific reasons and examples to explain your choice.
12. Some people think that the family is the most important influence on young adults. Other
people think that friends are the most important influence on young adults. Which view do you
agree with? Use examples to support your position.
13. Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body. What books do you like reading and
why?
14. People listen to music for different reasons and at different times. Why is music important to
many people? Use specific reasons and examples to support your choice.
15. What career are you planning for yourself in the future?
16. When shopping, some people use brand names to help them decide what to buy. Other
people go only by price. Which do you prefer?
17. In some countries, teenagers have jobs while they are still students. Do you think this is a
good idea? Support your opinion by using specific reasons and details.
18. Imagine yourself in ten years and describe your life. What are your greatest
accomplishments? Tell about your personal and professional life. What are some obstacles you have
faced and overcome?
19. When have you been happily surprised by something? Describe the experience and say why
the surprise was a happy one for you.
20. Which is more important for success: the natural ability you are born with or hard work?
Explain your opinion, using specific reasons and examples.
21. In life you are sometimes required to collaborate with people whom you do not like or agree
with. When collaborating with others, how does success depend on teamwork? How would one’s
strategy for cooperation change from dealing with a difficult teacher or director to a difficult
classmate?
22. A teenager’s life can often be more difficult than their parents suspect. What real problems
do teenagers face today? What can you say about the generation gap between you and your parents?
Do you feel that teenagers need to show more respect to older generations?
23. Sports are played and televised all over the world. Talk about one sport. What attracts
people to this sport? What are its most exciting moments?
24. Do you believe the arts are worth studying and necessary for a complete education? How
can the arts help in your life? What kind of arts are you interested in?
25. Some people prefer to eat at food stands or restaurants. Other people prefer to prepare and
eat food at home. Which do you prefer?
26. Do you agree that giving students marks at school only prevents students from studying
efficiently?
27. Do you think there are holidays in English-speaking countries worth adopting in Ukraine?
28. Would you prefer to run your own private business or work for a large company with many
employees? Why?
29. Some people like to stick to tasks they know they can do well. Others like to try new things
and take risks. Which do you prefer?
30. Which kind of job would you prefer: a job that is uninteresting but has a high salary, or a job
you really enjoy with a moderate salary?

Максимальна кількість балів:

Аудіювання: 15
Читання: 10
Письмо: 30
Говоріння:30
Всього: 85