English Test

March 2008
9th grade Class: B

Name: _____________________________________ No.: ____

Date: ______________________________________________

Classificao:
_____________________
A Professora:
_____________________
O Enc. de Educao:
_____________________

I READ THE FOLLOWING TEXT CAREFULLY.

JOBS ON THE SCREEN
Stevie Casey, now aged 23, was a worry to her parents when she was in high school. She suddenly fell
in love with her favourite video game; Midtown Madness. She became brilliant at it. Eventually she
went to Dallas, met the creator of the game and he offered her a job. Now she earns 65 thousand euros
a year designing online games. Sounds too good to be true? Its not. Many companies are desperately
5 looking for young people who eat, breathe and sleep computers. As many software and games
companies are new, youth can be an advantage, especially because young people are the main clients
of these products. However, as with all jobs, experience is needed. Many companies offer part-time
jobs or summer training so that you can gain some technical knowledge and experience.
Sometimes they pay quite well! The main advantage of these jobs is that they often help people to get a
10 foot in the door, especially as temporary jobs often lead to permanent job offers. Make sure your
keyboard skills are good. It is important to know how to install software. Many 17-year-old network
managers got jobs installing software at local schools. Many young people are taken on because of the
knowledge or skill they have picked up while surfing the net. Computer geeks are desirable for their
enthusiasm, many jobs require other skills such as the ability to work in a team, being able to
15 communicate and solving problems. The world of computer software and games is a lively industry.
Many computer enthusiasts get paid for doing something they love. On the other hand, it isnt all play
and the work can be really tough.
Current (adapted)

A. PARAGRAPH 1: Decide whether the following sentences are true or false and correct the false
ones. [4x3=12%]
1. Stevie loved studying in high school.
___________________________________________________________________________
2. She was offered a job by the creator of Midtown Madness, the game she was a specialist at.
___________________________________________________________________________
3. Lots of companies wish to find young people whose lives truly depend on computers.
___________________________________________________________________________
9th grade Class B

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4. No kind of training is provided.

___________________________________________________________________________
B. PARAGRAPH 2: Complete the sentences accordingly. [4x3=12%]
1. These types of jobs are very important because _________________________________
2. Installing software is an essential skill if ________________________________________
3. Besides being a computer geek, you should _____________________________________
4. Working in the computer industry may be _______________________________________
C. Match the words/expressions on the left . [4x2=8%]
1. get a foot in the
door (ll. 9-10)

a) learned a new skill or started a habit without

intending to

1.

2. software (l. 11)

b) to get your first opportunity to work in a place

2.

3. picked up (l. 13)

c) people who live and breathe computing

3.

4. geeks (l. 13)

d) programs used by computers for doing particular

jobs

4.

II VOCABULARY.
A. What do these people do? Match the people to the sentences. [5x1=5%]
1. accountants

a) care for little children

1.

2. nannies

b) build walls with bricks

2.

3. bricklayers

c) tell visitors about places

3.

4. lorry drivers

d) drive large goods vehicles

4.

5. tour guides

e) keep and examine money accounts

5.

B. Circle the odd-one-out. [4x1.5=6%]

1. a) restaurant

b) judge

c) bank

d) office

2. a) cooks

b) lawyers

c) cookers

d) nurses

3. a) agree

b) avoid

c) deny

d) mind

4. a) can

b) should

c) might

d) try

9th grade Class B

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III GRAMMAR
A. Suffixes: Complete the noun from the words given in brackets. [5x2=10%]
1. John is a _________________ (study) of _________________(inform) technology.
2. There are some points of _________________ (similar) between the two actors.
3. Anna has a _________________(weak) for fast cars.
4. There has been some _________________ (improve) lately.
B. Complete with the past perfect simple or past perfect continuous. [4x2=8%]
1. He was exhausted. He _______________________ (work) most of the afternoon.
2. He _______________________ (write) ten letters by tea time.
3. They finally found the key. How long _______________________ (they/look) for them?
4. After we _______________________(finish) our test, we left.
C. Complete with the gerund or the infinitive (with or without to). [5x2=10%]
1. I cant stand ______________ (be) alone at home at night.
2. She imagined _______________________ (travel) around Europe.
3. My mother taught me _______________________ (sing).
4. You could _______________________(help) me with my homework.
5. We are good at _______________________(solve) puzzles.
D. Combine the two sentences into one by using a relative pronoun. Omit the pronoun
whenever possible. [4x3=12%]
1. This is the video game. I bought it yesterday.
___________________________________________________________________________
2. The girl sent me an e-mail. She lives in Bristol.
___________________________________________________________________________
3. He is an actor. I admire his films.
___________________________________________________________________________
4. They work in a shop. It sells women clothes.
___________________________________________________________________________

9th grade Class B

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[17%]

IV WRITING

In about 80 words describe your dream job. You may refer to: the qualifications and skills you
need; how old you need to be; if you need any training course; what the job involves; working hours,
prospects and pay; why you think it suits you; the good and bad things about the job.
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
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_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________

? Good luck! ?
Your teacher,
Clara Costa

9th grade Class B

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