FACULTY OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHER EDUCATION ENGLISH DIVISION 1

READING MID-TERM TEST PAPER (QH2010)

FIRST SEMESTER Time allowed: 45 minutes The test has 20 questions. You are to transfer your answers to the answer sheet. There are 6 pages to the test paper.

Part 1: For questions 1-7, read the following passage and choose the best answer. Write A, B, C or D in your answer sheet.

SISTER WENDY, TV STAR!

Sister Wendy Beckett has been a nun for nearly 50 years, since she was 16. Most of the time she lives in solitary confinement in a caravan in the group of a Carmelite monastery in Norfolk, often not speaking to any for 22 hours a day. But every few months she leaves her caravan and travels around Europe, staying in international hotels, eating in famous restaurants. Why is she leading this double life? How does a nun who has devoted her life to solitude and prayer become a visitor to the Ritz? Sister Wendy has a remarkable other life. She writes and presents an arts programme for BBC television called Sister Wendys Grand Tour. In it, she visits European art capitals, gives her personal opinions on some of the worlds most famous works of art. She begins each programme with these words: For over 20 years, I lived in solitude. Now seeing Europe for the first time, Im visiting the worlds most famous art treasures. She speaks clearly and plainly, with none of the academic verbosity of art historians. TV viewers love her common-sense wisdom, and are fascinated to watch a kind, elderly, bespectacled nun who is so obviously delighted by all she sees. They are infected by her enthusiasm. Sister Wendy believes that although God wants her to have a life of prayer and solitary contemplation, he has also given her a mission to explain art in a simple manner to ordinary people. She says: I think God has been very good to me. Really I am a disaster as a person. Solitude is right for me because Im not good at being with other people. But of course I enjoy going on tour. I have a comfortable bed, a luxurious bath and good meals, but the joy is mild compared with the joy of solitude and silent prayer. I always rush back to my caravan. People find this hard to understand. I have never wanted anything else; I am a blissfully happy woman. Sister Wendys love of God and art is matched only by her love of good food and wine. She takes delight in poring over menus, choosing a good wine and wondering whether the steak is tender enough for her to eat because she has no back teeth. However, she is not delighted by her performance on television. I cant bear to watch myself on television. I feel that I look so silly a ridiculous black-clothed figure. Thank God we dont have a television at the monastery. I suppose I am famous in a way, but as 95% of my time is spent alone in my caravan, it really doesnt affect me. Im unimportant. Sister Wendy earned $1,200 for the first series. The success of this resulted in an increase for the second series. The money is being used to provide new shower rooms for the Carmelite monastery.

1.

What is this passage about? A. arts and travel B. being a nun C. a nuns double life D. Carmelite monastery

2.

Which of the following is NOT true about Sister Wendys other life? A. She works for a TV programme. B. She visits capitals of European countries. C. She presents on arts works. D. She starts every programme with the same speech.

3.

What does the word verbosity mean in this passage? A. clear and plain way of speaking B. wordy and complex explanation C. profound knowledge D. serious appearance

4.

Why is Sister Wendys programme popular? A. Because it involves many art historians. B. Because people love nuns. C. Because Sister Wendy appears reluctant to lead this double life. D. Because people want to see an eager nun enjoying another life.

5.

What does the highlighted word this refer to? A. the fact that Sister Wendy prefers the life as a nun. B. the reason why she can be offered a life as a TV presenter C. the reason why she is a disaster as a person D. the reason why she lives in a caravan.

6.

Which of the following can you infer from the passage? A. Sister Wendy loves God and arts more than good food. B. She cant eat tender steak. C. The other nuns at the monastery watch her programme on TV. D. She earned more than $1,200 in the second series.

7.

Which of the following can best describe the writers attitude towards Sister Wendy? A. neutral B. disapproving C. favorable D. bitter

Part 2: Question 8-12 Look at the text in each question. What does it say? Choose the correct letter A, B, or C.
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IT IS FORBIDDEN TO MOVE COMPUTERS FROM THIS ROOM WITHOUT PERMISSION FROM THE HEADTEACHER

A. You mustnt take the computers out of this room without asking the headteacher. B. You should check with the headteacher before using the computers in this room. C. You must ask the headteacher for permission to move computers into this room

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To From

Emily Katie

If you bring your student card tomorrow, your train ticket will cost less. Ive found my card. See you in queue at ticket office.
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A. Katie will buy Emilys train ticket for her. B. Emilys train ticket will be cheaper than Katies. C. Katie will meet Emily before they get on the train.

LOCKERS IN THIS AREA ARE RESERVED FOR USE BY VISITING TEAM ONLY

Anyone who takes part in a swimming competition may use these lockers. B. Swimmers from visiting teams neednt pay to use lockers. C. Members of the local swimming team cant use these lockers.
A.

Part 3: Question 16-20 The people below all want to visit a museum. On the opposite page there are description of eight museums. Decide which museum would be the most suitable for the following people. For questions 16-20, write the correct letter (A-H) on your answer sheet.
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MUSEUMS IN THE AREA

A. Stackwoth Museum tells the history of the famous Stackworth family, and gives information about other wellknown local people. These include poets, artists and writers. There is an excellent caf and a car park. B. Charberth Museum is near the main bus station and has a rich collection of objects, 19th-century paitings and photographs showing life in the town over the centuries the jobs people did and how they entertained themselves. An accompanying book showing the works on display is available from the Museum Shop as well as some attractive gifts. There is no caf. D. Westerleigh Museum is near the bus station, and contains exhibitions showing the towns development. In a separate room there are works by some wellknown artists as well as changing exhibitions of work by local artists. Sanwiches, cakes and hot drinks are on sale in the caf. F. Fresh water was once an important fishing port. Freshwater Museum, inside the old habour office, shows how the town developed and later became a tourist centre. There is an activity room for young children with DVDs, a large picnic area, car park, and good bus service. H. Middleworth Museum is full of objects from the past, which tell the story of different people who worked in the area, from factory workers to the men who built the canal and the railway. There is a Family Folder of things to do. The museum has a caf and is near the bus and railway station.

C. Fairley Museum is arranged like an oldfashioned village. You can see people working at their trades to produce tools, pots and even boats using traditional skills. There is a small picnic area in the car park but most people eat in the excellent caf. The museum is on a bus route. E. The rooms in Scotwood Manor are furnished as they were 100 years ago. The staff spend the day as people did then and are happy to explain what it was like. There are activity sheets for children and a shop with books, souvenirs and cards, as well as a good caf and car park. G. Set in beautiful countryside, the Woodlands Museum is arranged like a village of 100 years ago. To learn more about this period, visitors are encouraged to spend time doing practical things such as making pots and cooking. There is an adventure playground with a picnic area under the trees and parking.