NAME

CLASS
ENGLISH FILE
8  Grammar, Vocabulary, and Pronunciation   A Upper-intermediate

GRAMMAR 3 Order the words to make sentences.

1 Underline the correct word(s). Example: my / the / taken / of / I / photo / outside /
Parliament / had / Houses
Example: Karen offered to lend / lending me her car
 I had my photo taken outside the Houses of
when mine was being repaired.
Parliament.
1 Jack encouraged me to try / that I try a new
1 to / valued / the / an / we / get / painting / expert /
hairdresser’s.
decided / by
2 John regretted not asking / to not ask how much
2 my / going / out / tooth / have / I’m / bad / to /
the hotel was before he booked it.
tomorrow / taken
3 Sheila insisted on paying / to pay for all our drinks.
3 it / my / checked / I / fully / sold / had / car / I / before
4 Peter convinced me not to give up / not giving up
4 house / you / same / exactly / your / will / painted /
playing rugby.
have / colour / the / ?
5 I suggested to buy / buying Anne some flowers, but
5 bigger / anyone / get / why / lips / to / made / would /
Lisa said she’d prefer chocolates.
want / their / ?
6 My neighbour threatened to cut / cutting down the
6 our / installed / heating / two / we’re / new / system /
trees in the garden.
weeks / having / in
6
6

2 Complete the sentences with the correct passive Grammar total 20

form of the verb in brackets.
Example: Nobody has been told (tell) the time of the VOCABULARY
exam yet. 4 Complete the words in the sentences.
1 It’s difficult to avoid ________ (photograph) by Example: The man had committed several previous
paparazzi when you’re famous. crimes for which he was also charged.
2 The gym is closed this week – it ________
1 The v________ of the jury was that Mr Anderson
(redecorate).
was guilty of all charges.
3 I saw Miranda at the art exhibition. She ________
2 The man was charged with s________ after
(show) around by one of the artists.
following Miss Stevens everywhere.
4 Drivers shouldn’t ________ (fine) for parking ten
3 Cigarettes are often s_______ into the UK because
minutes longer than they’ve paid for.
the tax is so high on them there.
5 Chelsea refused ________ (beat) and ended up
4 Two w________ described seeing the attack from
winning the match.
their bedroom windows.
6 The couple ________ (think) to have escaped to
5 After being q________ by police for several hours,
France.
the woman confessed to the crime.
7 Fish and chips used to ________ (wrap) in old
6 Both men were s________ to three years in prison.
newspapers.
7 The j________ gave the woman a shorter sentence
8 That restaurant ________ (say) to be one of the best
because she had pleaded guilty.
in Europe.
8 The k________ demanded £50,000 for the safe
8
return of the director’s wife.
9 Both women were a________ because of a lack of
reliable evidence.
10 The politician was b________ by a friend who knew
some of his guilty secrets.
10

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 NAME CLASS
ENGLISH FILE
8  Grammar, Vocabulary, and Pronunciation   A Upper-intermediate

5 Complete the sentences with the correct word. PRONUNCIATION

freelance sensationalist reviews vows  6 Match the words with the same sound.

commentator biased newsreader 
gossip reporter censored paparazzi accuse caught drugs 
manslaughter murderer jury
Example: Photographers who follow famous people
around and sell photos to the newspapers are Example: fraud  manslaughter
called paparazzi. 1 burglar ________
1 That news report isn’t at all objective – it’s very 2 judge ________
________. 3 court ________
2 Critics have given the new show very favourable 4 community ________
________. 5 tourists ________
3 The internet isn’t ________ so you can read stories 5
there that aren’t in the newspapers.
4 Bill doesn’t work for one single newspaper, he’s a
7 Underline the stressed syllable.
________ journalist.
5 Ellen was a war ________ until she had children. She Example: ex|pand
writes about local politics now. 1 co|mmen|ta|tor
6 The ______ on the tennis final screamed with joy 2 pre|sen|ter
when Andy Murray won. 3 pa|pa|ra|zzi
7 I read that magazine for all the celebrity ________ – 4 man|slaugh|ter
it’s fun but I know it’s not all true.
5 kid|napp|ing
8 They use such strong language in their news stories –
5
it’s too ________ for me.
9 I loved it when that very serious ________ couldn’t Pronunciation total 10
stop laughing as he read one story.
10 Government ________ to reduce taxes before next Grammar, Vocabulary, and Pronunciation total 50
election.
10

Vocabulary total 20

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 NAME CLASS
ENGLISH FILE
8  Reading and Writing   A Upper-intermediate

READING text was a mix of information just thrown together and

which was too much for children to understand. I broke up
Read the article about a writer’s life. Five sentences the ideas, planning to turn them into four books.
have been removed. Which sentence (A–F) fits each Unfortunately, life took over and I had to put the book on
gap (1–5)? There is one extra sentence you do not
hold for a while. After my husband and I moved, I returned
need to use.
to reporting, receiving several assignments for a local
magazine and two national and international food-trade
A Writer’s Life magazines.

My biggest dream has always been to become an author. As (–––– 5 ––––) The desire to complete and submit the book for
an enthusiastic reader since I was a toddler, books have publication was as strong as ever. Fortunately, I became a
been a steady influence, a friend, and an escape. member of a wonderful group that offered support, as well
(–––– 1 ––––) To me, reading is second only to breathing. From as excellent suggestions. My book, a children’s book
cereal boxes to fiction, I devour anything and everything I intended for ages 8 – 12, was accepted by a publisher and
can get hold of. I read from morning, while eating breakfast, released three years ago. The sequel is almost completed
to night, before going to sleep. Some of my favourite genres for submission, and to this, I hope to add two or three more
include contemporary women’s novels and thrillers. to the series, though all of the books work equally well on
their own.
I guess this love of books is what drove me to become a
writer. The fact that I am always talking, thinking, and Between writing, reading, reviewing, and being with family
plotting helped me with my ambition. I have a need to I enjoy a busy and happy life. I may never become
create and to put into words feelings, thoughts, and well-known, but my dream has been satisfied. I encourage
desires. To me, books should present a welcome break from anyone who wants to write to ‘just do it.’
the stresses of every day, a way to relax and unwind. There
are horrors all around us. (–––– 2 ––––) Novels can carry A I could not go through life wondering if I would be
people away to another place, and allow them to forget, for successful or not.
a short time at least, all the awful things in life. Any type of B Nevertheless, I kept returning to the children’s novel I
reading inspires the brain, and gives a change of pace. had in my head.
Children require fantasy and play, and adults also need a
C After all, we just have to pick up a newspaper or turn on
break from reality.
the news to realize how much crime there is in society.
Exciting as it is to be able to inspire others, an author’s
D Meanwhile, four unfinished adult contemporary
career is lonely and often dull. Writing requires self-control
novels are calling to me, and I plan to get to them one
and determination, and writers, as well as having
day.
knowledge of the difficulty of getting published, need to be
able to deal with criticism. For every potential writer that E Although I found reporting enjoyable, I recognized this
there is out there, many give up or fail. I kept trying with the was not the type of writing I wanted to do.
burning desire to do well. (–––– 3 ––––) I needed to try to see if F I cannot imagine living without the written word.
I could do it.
Reading total 10
My first writing experience was as a reporter for a small
newspaper, almost twenty years ago. I submitted two
WRITING
articles for each of the three months the paper was
published. The first month, I was given a bridal show to Write an essay on the following topic:
cover and I had to write an article on how to prepare an ‘Nowadays there is too much news about celebrities’.
elegant, yet inexpensive, wedding. Two local newspapers
gave me assignments for various topics, and I realized this
Write 140–180 words. Include the following
is an excellent way to learn the basics as a writer.
information:
(–––– 4 ––––) • explain if there is a lot of news about celebrities in your
country
My goal was to write fiction. Whether creating short stories
or ‘the great American novel’, I enjoy fantasy and making up
• give your opinion on this
fictitious people and tales about their lives. Although I • say why you think this situation exists
prefer genres suited to adults, I decided to try writing a Writing total 10
children’s book. I first started working on this in 1995, and
after reading the extremely rough draft, I recognized the Reading and Writing total 20

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 NAME CLASS
ENGLISH FILE
8  Listening and Speaking   A Upper-intermediate

LISTENING SPEAKING
1 Listen to five people talking about catching up 1 Make questions and ask your partner.
with friends. Choose from the list (A–F) what 1 Why / people / use / social networking sites?
each speaker says about keeping in touch. Use the
2 Is / important / limit / time / children / spend online?
letters only once. There is one extra letter you do
not need to use. Why / Why not?

A Writing emails takes up far too much time. 3 Do / you / prefer / shopping online / or / visit / shops?
Why?
B Using social networking sites keeps everyone
up-to-date. 4 What / level / crime / your country?
C Texting is really practical at times. 5 Should / criminals / commit / serious crimes /sent /
D Nothing is better than chatting face-to-face. prison? Why / Why not?
E Spending a weekend away together is better than Now answer your partner’s questions.
meeting for a coffee.
F Texting is not as good as chatting on the phone. 2 Listen to your partner talking about crime. Do you
Speaker 1:
agree with him / her?
Speaker 2: 3 Talk about the statement below, saying if you agree
Speaker 3: or disagree. Give reasons.
Speaker 4: ‘Criminals in my country should receive more severe
Speaker 5: punishments.’
5 Speaking total 20

2 Listen to an internet security expert talking about Listening and Speaking total 30
ways to protect yourself while using the internet.
Underline the correct answer.
1 According to Alison, people nowadays tend to use
social networking sites as well as the phone and
email / more than the phone and email / instead
of the phone and email.
2 Friends who accidentally reveal information about
others’ travel plans / future social events / new
purchases are actually putting them at risk.
3 Alison advises against opening / saving / deleting
certain attachments in messages.
4 In terms of your online profile, it’s a good idea to
give your family access to it / limit how much
people can see / allow all your friends to see it.
5 Alison suggests that people may get in trouble at
home / with friends / at work because of an
inappropriate comment.
5

Listening total 10

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