Speaking Comprehension Test for 10^th Form Students

1.   Imagine that you are the owner of a new museum.

§  What type of museum would you like to own?

§  Who would be interested in visiting your museum?

§  What techniques or things would you use to attract tourists?

§  From which time period would you gather most of your materials?

2.   Tastes in reading differ as in everything else.

§  What books do you like or dislike reading?

§  Which book is your favourite one? Why? Would you like it to be filmed?

§  Are you fond of books that have a happy ending? Does it matter to you?

§  What makes a book exciting to read - its plot, its author’s style, love theme in it, characters taken from real life or something else?

3.   Some people believe that competitive sports, both team and individual, have no place in the school curriculum.

§  Why do these beliefs exist?

§  Do you like competitive sports? Why or why not?

§  What sports do you usually play at PT lessons? What skills do you develop at these lessons?

§   If you could ban evaluation at PT lessons, would you do it?

4.   Nelson Mandela, the South African politician, once said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world”.

§  Do you think the Ukrainian system of education is good enough ‘to change the world’.

§  What stages does the Ukrainian system of education consist of? What does each stage imply?

§  In your opinion, what is the most important thing for school leavers now?

§  Does the system of education in our country demand any changes? What are they?

5.   Despite all modern things  many  people still listen to the radio.

§  What advantages does listening to the radio have?

§  What disadvantages does it have?

§  Do you occasionally listen to the radio or is it your hobby? What is your favourite radio programme?

§  If you could start a new radio programme, what would it be?

6.   25 December: Christmas. In the UK, a typical dessert is Christmas pudding made of dried fruits and sugar.

§   What other British traditions and customs at Christmas do you know?

§   What are Christmas celebrations in the UK and Ukraine alike?

§   What are they different in? Which of the British traditions or customs will you borrow for our country?

§   Do you know about any Christmas traditions and customs in other European countries? What are they?

7.   Choose a character from your favourite television programme.

§   Why is this character your favourite? How does he/she look like?

§   What is the character similar to you? Different?

§   Is this character popular with young people of your age? Do you try to imitate him/her?

§   If you could trade places with this character, would you? Why or why not?

8.   Imagine you participate in a conference on environmental protection in you city/ town/ village.

§   Are there any environmental threats in your area? What are the main environmental problems?

§   What can we reduce, recycle or reuse to help the environment?

§   What consequences did the Chernobyl nuclear disaster have in our country?

§   What can you personally do to protect the environment?

9.   Talking and being with friends is good. Is online communication a substitution?

§   How often do you spend your free time with your close friends? What do you usually talk about?

§   Do you chat with your friends or strangers on the Net? What do you usually chat about? Can you be online late at night?

§   Chatrooms are fun and entertaining, but can they be dangerous?

§   What is your online experience?

10.        Abraham Lincoln was sometimes called the Great Emancipator because of his courageous, outspoken fight for the freedom of slaves.

§  Which compassionate fighter for freedom in Ukraine is so dear to Ukrainians as Abraham Lincoln to Americans?

§  What freedom did   he/she fight for?

§  What legendary fighters for human rights in the world   do you know? What human rights did they fight for?

§  Why is  freedom valued so much by humanity?

11.        There are 192 countries in the world. How can people from different countries communicate?

§   What languages are considered to be the languages of international communication?

§   How do languages influence each other in the course of time?

§   What criteria does an international language have?

§   Do you think the world should adopt a universal language? Do you think a universal language will help international communication?

12.        We’ve recently celebrated the World Teacher’s Day.

§   Who is your favourite teacher, the one who is very special for you?

§   What is she/he like? Which methods or attitudes make her/him special?

§   How does this teacher influence you and your classmates?

§   Do you think the knowledge she/he gives you will be of use in the future?

13. Imagine you are friends with a time traveller. Your friend has just arrived in 2011 from 50 years ago.

§   What will be the biggest surprises for your friend?

§   How will you help guide your friend through modern life? Explain.

§   Which manner of human behaviour will surprise him most?

§   What challenges will you and your friend face?

14.        In most parts of the developed world, people are better off financially today than they were fifty years ago.

§   People are richer today but are they happier?

§   What is the difference between having enough money and being rich?

§   What is the main source of happiness for most people?

§   How can money improve the society we live in?

15.        Aristotle, the Greek philosopher, once said, “No great genius has ever existed without some touch of madness.”

§   How do you understand this quote?

§   Do you remember any geniuses whose inventions  changed human existence completely but shook the world with their ‘madness’?

§   What spheres of human activity does this statement especially concern?

§   Can modern  painting witness this statement?

16.        From which play is this famous phrase: “To be or not to be, that is the question.”

§  Why is this quote so famous among people?

§  If you are not sure what to choose what helps you to make a final decision?

§  What do you worry about most of all: your marks, relationships, duties or leisure?

§  In your opinion, which problem(s) do adults most often face?

17.        Many teenagers love listening to rock music.

§  Why do they prefer rock music?

§  What do you think are the most significant elements of  rock music?

§  What rock singers or bands do young people admire? What evokes their admiration?

§  Do you like rock music? Why or why not?

18.        Clothes make the man.

§  How far do you agree or disagree with the saying?

§  Do you like style of clothes young people are wearing at present? Do their clothes look beautiful?

§  What about clothes is more important for you? Being beautiful or being comfortable?

§  In your opinion, why are  fashion shows so frequent and popular nowadays?

19.        Foreign  language learning is compulsory.

§  What makes studying a foreign language interesting?

§  Is it easy or difficult for you to learn English? Why?

§  Do you like learning English individually or at school?

§  Why might it be important for students to learn a foreign language

20.        Drugs, cigarettes and alcohol are among the biggest killers in Europe. Does this concern our country?

§   How does drug, cigarette and alcohol addiction affect young generation?

§   What lifestyle do you think makes young people get addicted to drugs, alcohol and cigarettes?

§   What steps are made by our government to improve the situation?

§   How can school education warn teenagers against harmful habits and change the present situation?

  

              Writing Comprehension Test for 10^th Form Students

1.     Sam Levenson once said, “Any kid who has parents who are interested in him and has a houseful of books isn’t poor”.

·        You are a teenager now. Can you say that you aren’t poor because your parents have always been interested in you? How do your family values mould  your character?

·        Is reading your hobby or that of your parents? What book has influenced your life most of all?

·        What else, in your opinion, does a child need not to feel miserable?

2.     “Art is the triumph over chaos,” said John Cheever, the English author.

        Which of the arts impresses you most of all?

·        Which of the fine arts do you find the most influential?  How do the mass media promote the arts nowadays?

·        Whom do you consider the greatest artist ever? What makes his/her creations masterpieces? What feelings and emotions do his/her works evoke?

·         Was your last visit to a gallery or museum exciting? What famous world galleries or museums would you like to visit?

3.     Your teachers must have always told you that your school is your second home. Do you agree with these words?

·         Do you like lessons? Do you take active part in your lessons?

·         What problems do you face at school? How do you cope with them?

·         What in your opinion contributes to students’ progress at school - all modern facilities available or hard study of students? Perhaps  something else?