Listening Comprehension
GRADE 11
Guinness Book of World Records
The biggest house of cards, the longest tongue, and of course, the tallest man: these are among the thousands of records logged in the famous Guinness Book of Records. Created in 1955 after a debate concerning Europe's fastest game bird, what began as a marketing tool sold to pub landlords to promote Guinness, an Irish drink, became the bestselling copyright title of all time (a category that excludes books such as the Bible and the Koran). In time, the book would sell 120 million copies in over 100 countries— quite a leap from its humble beginnings.
In its early years, the book set its sights on satisfying man's innate curiosity about the natural world around him. Its two principal fact finders, twins Norris and Ross McWhirter, scoured the globe to collect empirical facts. It was their task to find and document aspects of life that can be sensed or observed, things that can be quantified or measured. But not just many things. They were only interested in superlatives: the biggest and the best. It was during this period that some of the hallmark Guinness Records were documented, answering such questions as "What is the brightest star?" and "What is the biggest spider?"
Once aware of the public's thirst for such knowledge, the book's authors began to branch out to cover increasingly obscure, little-known facts. They started documenting human achievements as well. A forerunner for reality television, the Guinness Book gave people a chance to become famous for accomplishing eccentric, often pointless tasks. Records were set in 1955 for consuming 24 raw eggs in 14 minutes and in 1981 for the fastest solving of a Rubik's Cube (which took a mere 38 seconds). In 1979 a man yodeled non-stop for ten and a quarter hours.
In its latest incarnation, the book has found a new home on the internet. No longer restricted to the confines of physical paper, the Guinness World Records website contains seemingly innumerable facts concerning such topics as the most powerful combustion engine, or the world's longest train. What is striking, however, is that such facts are found sharing a page with the record of the heaviest train to be pulled with a beard. While there is no denying that each of these facts has its own, individual allure, the latter represents a significant deviation from the education-oriented facts of earlier editions. Perhaps there is useful knowledge to be gleaned regarding the tensile strength of a beard, but this seems to cater to an audience more interested in seeking entertainment than education.
Originating as a simple bar book, the Guinness Book of Records has evolved over decades to provide insight into the full spectrum of modern life. And although one may be more likely now to learn about the widest human mouth than the highest number of casualties in a single battle of the Civil War, the Guinness World Records website offers a telling glimpse into the future of fact-finding and record recording.
GRADE 11
Listening comprehension test
1. The biggest house of cards, the longest tongue, and the tallest man are examples of some of the first records ever set.
2. The book was created after people were discussing the world’s fastest bird.
3. The book is named after the Irish beer, Guinness.
4. The Guinness Book of World Records is the bestselling copyright title of all time.
5. The content in the Book has changed slightly over time to keep readers interested.
6. The Book started by recording interesting facts about the natural world.
7. You can now find many more facts online, at the Guinness World Records website.
8. The facts, produced by the people of the Guinness World Records, have become less entertaining and more educational over time.
9. Based on the tone of the article, it can be assumed that the author is happy about the change in information published in the book.
10. In the text, the word incarnation means personification.
2. Choose the correct letter (a, b or c) – (2 points each)
1. Which of the following provides the best definition for empirical? a. coming from natural b. resulting from experience c. recordable 2. The Guinness Book of Records was created_______ a. in 1855 b. in 1865 c. in 1955 3. The Book was begun as ________________ a. a book of world records b. a book recording interesting facts c. a book sold to pubs to promote an Irish beer 4. The Guinness Book of Records has been sold in______________ a. 100 countries b. over 200 countries c. over 100 countries 5. The original goal of the book was to __________
a. impress people around the world b. satisfy peoples’ curiosity about the natural world c. collect facts from around the world | 6. The hallmark Guinness Records were documented. They answered the questions like a. “What is the brightest star?” and “What is the biggest spider?” b. “What is the biggest bird?” and “What is the biggest spider?” c. “How heavy is the biggest spider?” and “What is the biggest star?” 7. The original “fact finders” were only interested in superlatives. What is a superlative? a. something that is the biggest and the best b. something that is famous c. something that is fast and strong 8. Overtime the book began to change. What did it begin recording? a. more and more facts about nature b. little-known facts and strange human achievements c. important human accomplishments 9. According to the author, the biggest difference between the older Guinness Book of Records and the new Guinness World Record website is: a. there has been a shift from education to entertaining material b. the facts have become less interesting c. the total number of facts has increased 10. The author’s tone in this article can best be described as: a. uninterested b. persuasive c. irritated |
GRADE 11
Reading Comprehension, test 1
Philadelphia
Philadelphia is a city known for many things. It is where the Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776, and it was also the first capital of the United States. But one fact about Philadelphia is not so well-known: it is home to nearly 3,000 murals painted on the sides of homes and buildings around the city. In fact, it is said that Philadelphia has more murals than any other city in the world, with the exception of Rome. How did this come to be?
More than 20 years ago, a New Jersey artist named Jane Golden started a program pairing troubled youth with artists to paint murals on a few buildings around the city. From this small project, something magical happened. The young people involved helped to create magnificent pieces of art, but there were other, perhaps more important benefits. The young people learned to collaborate and get along with many different kinds of people during the various steps required to paint and design a mural. They learned to be responsible, because they needed to follow a schedule to make sure the murals were completed. They also learned to take pride in their community. It is hard for any resident to see the spectacular designs and not feel proud to be a part of Philadelphia.
Take a walk around some of the poorest neighborhoods in Philadelphia, neighborhoods full of broken windows and littered front steps, and you will find beautiful works of art on the sides and fronts of buildings. Of course the murals are not just in poor neighborhoods, but more affluent ones as well. Special buses take tourists to different parts of the city to see the various murals, which range from huge portraits of historical heroes, to cityscapes, to scenes depicting the diverse ethnic groups that call Philadelphia home. As a result of its success, the mural program has now become the nation’s largest public art program and a model for other cities throughout the country seeking to help troubled youth.
Put down + if the statement is true, - if it is false (1 point each).
1. Philadelphia is a city known only as the place where the Declaration of Independence was signed.
2. Philadelphia has more than 3,000 pictures painted on buildings throughout the city.
3. Rome has more murals than any other city in the world.
4. The murals taught the youth responsibility and to take pride in their city.
5. In this text, magnificent means outstanding.
6. The art created by the youth was the most important benefit of the program.
7. The murals can only be found in the poorest neighborhoods in Philadelphia.
8. The murals are a Philadelphia tourist attraction.
9. In this text, affluent means popular.
10. The main focus of this passage is an art program that focuses on helping troubled youth.
Reading Comprehension, test 2
On the Open Road
Our complex modern life, especially in our larger centers, gets us running so many times into grooves that we are prone to miss the all-around, completer life. We are led at times almost to forget that the stars come nightly to the sky, or even that there is a sky; that there are hedgerows and groves where the birds are always singing and where we can lie on our backs and watch the treetops swaying above us and the clouds floating by an hour or hours at a time; where one can live with his or her soul or, as Whitman has put it, where one can loaf and invite one's soul.
We need changes from the duties and the cares of our accustomed everyday life. They are necessary for healthy, normal living. We need occasionally to be away from our friends, our relatives, from the members of our immediate households. Such changes are good for us; they are good for them. We appreciate them better, they us, when we are away from them for a period, or they from us.
We need these changes occasionally in order to find new relations. By such changes there come to our minds more clearly the better qualities of those with whom we are in constant association; we lose sight of the little frictions and irritations that arise; we see how we can be more considerate, appreciative, kind.
Grade 11 Reading Comprehension Page 1
Choose the correct letter (a, b or c) – (1 point each)
1. The phrase “loaf and invite one’s soul” means:
a. relax and get to know you
b. allow yourself to be lazy
c. invite your soul over
2. Whitman is probably what:
a. an unknown person
b. a singer
c. a poet
3. Which statement best summarizes the first paragraph?
a. People often forget that the stars come out at night, and there are birds always singing.
b. Our busy lives lead us to forget about the small things and ourselves.
c. We sometimes forget we have a soul.
4. Which statement best summarizes the second paragraph?
a. Change helps us to forget what irritates us.
b. We need change occasionally to remind us what we appreciate in our everyday lives.
c. We need change to stay healthy and happy.
5. Which statement best summarizes the text?
a. We need changes from the duties and the cares of our accustomed everyday life.
b. We need to learn to be more considerate, appreciative, and kind.
c. By living every day the same we miss everyday things and the opportunity for change.
Reading Comprehension, test 3
‘Love you forever day’ prompts Chinese wedding rush (from bbc.co.uk, January 2013)
Thousands of couples queued at registry offices across China on Friday, in the hope that marrying on the date would bring them lasting romance. The rush came because the Mandarin for 4 January 2013 sounds similar to the phrase "I will love you all my life".
At least 10,000 couples were due to tie the knot in Beijing, with many more turning up without an appointment. A similar wedding rush took place on 12 December, the century's final repeating date.
Matching days, months and years - like 12/12/12 - are being considered to bring good fortune, but that particular date also sounded like "will love" in Mandarin, China's state news agency Xinhua reported in December. Extra government staff had to be deployed then to cope with the increased number of people.
On Friday - nicknamed "love you forever day" - couples were once again crowding into civil affairs departments in provinces around the country.
Couples in the southern island province of Hainan even braced bad weather and lined up in the rain, waiting for their chance to say "I do". Weddings are a multi-billion-dollar business in China, with more than 10 million taking place every year.
Choose the correct letter (a, b or c) – (1 point each)
Grade 11 Reading Comprehension Page 2
A. to throw the roses
B. to tie the knot
C. to get hitched
Reading Comprehension, test 4
Read the text below and choose the correct word (A, B, C or D) for each gap. - (1 point each)
How Athletes Cope with Hot Climates
In order to succeed as an Olympic athlete, you need discipline, strength and (1) .......... . However, extreme weather conditions in countries where the games are held can negatively (2) ......... performance. For example, in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, extreme heat and humidity were extra (3) ......... that athletes from temperate climates such as Great Britain had to face. In order to help athletes (4) ......... with these conditions, British sports scientists put a lot of (5) ......... into developing innovative solutions. To begin with, intense humidity doesn’t allow sweat to evaporate; therefore, athletes become (6) ......... but their bodies don’t cool down. In order to help athletes keep physically fit in those conditions, scientists designed a special heat chamber. The chamber is a room filled with various exercise machines, and it is able to (7) ......... various weather conditions. In addition, electronic pills measured the athletes’ body temperature while they were exercising in order to protect them from heat exhaustion, which is a serious (8) .......... . Incredible advances, such as these, in the area of sports science ensure that athletes are well prepared for important sporting events (9) ........ take place (10) ......... extreme weather conditions.
1) | A endurance | B consideration | C tension | D anxiety |
2) | A ensure | B influence | C develop | D bring in |
3) | A chores | B obstacles | C consequences | D side effects |
4) | A cope | B combine | C fight | D survive |
5) | A pressure | B pain | C trouble | D effort |
6) | A wet | B damp | С sweaty | D sticky |
7) | A simulate | B pretend | C repeat | D imagine |
8) | A situation | B factor | C condition | D circumstance |
9) | A which | B who | C whose | D witch |
10) | A with | B under | C on | D in |
Grade 11 Reading Comprehension Page 3
GRADE 11
Writing Comprehension
(In this test you will select from two writing tasks. Choose the one that you feel you are most capable to write about.)
1. Can you think of any animal species that are endangered? Why do you think so many animal species have become endangered in recent years? (Give a few reasons.)
2. Is being overweight a serious problem? Why/Why not? Do you think there are both healthy and unhealthy ways of losing weight? Can you give a few examples of each?