Reading A2

Exercise 1
Preparation task
Match the definitions (a–f) with the words in bold type in the sentences (1–6).

Sentences Definitions
1. …….… That sounds like a good idea. a. came to live here
2. …….… We moved in yesterday. b. I’m excited about
3. …….… Keep going past the cinema. c. tell each other news about our lives
4. …….… We should catch up soon. d. tell me
5. …….… Let me know if you like fish. e. is
6. …….… Looking forward to it! f. don’t stop moving

Reading text: An email from a friend

Hi Samia,
Quick email to say that sounds like a great idea. Saturday is better for me because I’m meeting my parents on
Sunday. So if that’s still good for you, why don’t you come here? Then you can see the new flat and all the
work we’ve done on the kitchen since we moved in. We can eat at home and then go for a walk in the
afternoon. It’s going to be so good to catch up finally. I want to hear all about your new job!
Our address is 52 Charles Road, but it’s a bit difficult to find because the house numbers are really strange here.
If you turn left at the post office and keep going past the big white house on Charles Road, there’s a small side
street behind it with the houses 50–56 in. Don’t ask me why the side street doesn’t have a different name! But
call me if you get lost and I’ll come and get you.
Let me know if there’s anything you do/don’t like to eat. Really looking forward to seeing you!
See you soon!
Gregor

Task 1
1. Samia and Gregor are going to meet on Saturday. True False
2. They’re going to have lunch at Gregor’s flat. True False
3. They haven’t seen each other for a long time. True False
4. Samia’s life hasn’t changed since they last met. True False
5. The house is easy to find. True False
6. Gregor doesn’t know the name of the side street his flat is on. True False

Task 2
1. idea. like a great That sounds
2. me. for better is Saturday
3. you Why here? don’t come
4. all about your I want new job. to hear
5. you Call if lost. me get
6. forward to looking you! Really seeing

Exercise 2
Preparation task
Match the definitions (a–h) with the vocabulary (1–8).

Vocabulary Definitions
1. …… minimum a. with much work in little time
2. …… experienced b. to give special attention to
3. …… to focus on c. has studied to do a job
4. …… qualified d. has done the job before
5. …… an experience e. a part of a course
6. …… a module f. something you do or that has happened to you
7. …… intensive g. to change
8. …… to vary h. the lowest possible number

Reading text: Two English course prospectuses

Charles School
Learn English in one of our three schools for the best experience at the lowest prices. Choose
from London, Oxford or Cambridge. Practise your English, make friends and see England!

General English
Improve your speaking, listening, reading and writing.
Intensive course
31 hours per week, Monday–Thursday 9 a.m.–5 p.m. and Friday 9 a.m.–12 p.m.

Part-time course
15 hours per week, Monday–Friday, mornings, afternoons or evenings.
 Mornings: 9 a.m.–12 p.m.
 Afternoons: 2–5 p.m.
 Evenings: 5–8 p.m.

Exam preparation
Extra focus on grammar and vocabulary, and exam practice.
19 hours per week, Monday to Thursday 9 a.m.–1 p.m., Friday 9 a.m.–12 p.m.

Prices (per week)

 Intensive: £500
 Mornings: £190
 Afternoons: £230
 Evenings: £270
 Exam preparation: £300

Elizabeth School of English

One-to-one classes and groups in central London. Our teachers are all qualified and
experienced for a high-quality English course.

Build your own course

Choose the modules to suit your needs. Choose the times that work for you.

General English**
• English skills: reading, writing, listening, speaking
• Writing extra
• Speaking extra
• Grammar and vocabulary

English for Life

• English for business
• English for doctors
• English for engineers
• University path
Exam preparation
Courses from 5 to 35 hours per week. Minimum 5 hours per week.
Prices
• General English classes: £10 per hour
• English for Life classes: £15 per hour
• Exam preparation classes: £10 per hour
• One-to-one classes: please email for prices

Hours
Monday to Friday 9 a.m.–9 p.m.
Saturday 9 a.m.–1 p.m.

** General English classes are only available with a minimum of two students

Task 1
Write the information under the correct school.

Has exam classes only in the mornings Has courses from £50 per week

Has all the information about

prices in the prospectus Has weekend classes Has schools in more than one city

Has the most choice about when to study Has the most different kinds of classes

Charles School Elizabeth School of English

Task 2
Are the sentences true or false?

1. At Charles School, it’s cheaper to study in the evening than in the morning. True False

2. At Charles School, 15 hours of General English costs between £190 and £270. True False

3. At Elizabeth School of English, all the teachers have taught English before. True False

4. At Elizabeth School, 15 hours of English for doctors costs £150. True False

5. At Elizabeth School, you have to ask if you want True False

to know how much one-toone classes cost.

6. You can study more hours of exam preparation at Charles than Elizabeth School. True False
Reading B1

Exercise 1
Preparation task
Match the definitions (a–f) with the vocabulary (1–6).

Definitions
Vocabulary
a. a building or club where people go to do physical
1. …… a session
exercise
2. …… a gym
b. the state of being healthy and strong.
3. …… fitness
c. a document that gives details about how and when
4. …… a training plan
you will do physical exercise
5. …… an instructor
d. a period of time for a particular activity
6. …… a fee
e. money you pay so that you can do something such as
join an organization
f. a person who teaches a skill or a sport

Reading text: A flyer for a gym

BEST BODY FITNESS

About us
You don’t want just a gym membership. You want a membership that means something. And that means you
need support, expert help and a community. Best Body Fitness isn’t just a gym: it’s a full-service fitness
membership made for you. Here’s how it works:

STEP ONE:
Your assessment We begin with an assessment session. This is a chance for you to see what we do at Best
Body. Our assessment plans are no-cost and no-risk. We’ll also make a training plan specifically for you.

STEP TWO:
Your training When you decide to become a Best Body member, we show you what to do, how to do it and
why you are doing it. After a few sessions with an expert private trainer you will feel comfortable working out
on your own. But don’t worry, we’ll always be nearby if you have questions.

STEP THREE:
Your membership Membership works on a month-to-month basis. There are no sign-up fees and no
cancellation fees. Start and stop whenever you want. And the best part? Our fees are the most competitive in the
whole downtown area.

STEP FOUR:
Your community At Best Body Fitness, we see everyone as part of a big team. And when you work with a
team, you can do great things. Join any of our specialised classes, led by expert instructors. Come to our
nutrition classes. Participate in our regular social events. Everything is included in your fee. Finally, we wanted
to share with you some reasons why our members say that they have chosen us over any other fitness centre in
the city.

It’s so EASY
• Easy to start, stop, cancel or refund a membership
• Easy to access – we’re open 24/7, we never close • Easy to do exercise – we have lots of equipment, no
long wait
• Easy results – our trainers and equipment give you success, fast
• Easy to find – in the centre of town, near public transport and with parking

It’s WONDERFUL
• Wonderful members
• Wonderful trainers and staff
• Wonderful equipment
• Wonderful energy
• Wonderful location Come and visit us for a personal tour!

Task 1
Are the sentences true or false?

1. The first visit to the club is free. True False

2. Everybody gets the same training plan. True False
3. At this gym, you always do exercise with an expert instructor. True False
4. If you stop your membership, you don’t have to pay anything. True False
5. This gym says it’s the best value for money. True False
6. Nutrition classes cost a little bit extra. True False
7. The gym is open at 4 o’clock in the morning. True False
8. The gym is outside of town. True False

Task 2
Complete the sentences with words from the box.

Time membership over whenever

own led specifically nearby

1. The gym offers a full-service fitness ……………………………… .

2. We’ll make a training plan ……………………………… for you.

3. You can now work out on your ……………………………… .

4. We’ll always be ……………………………… to help.

5. Start and stop ……………………………… you want.

6. Join any of our classes, ……………………………… by expert instructors.

7. This is why our members have chosen us ……………………………… any other gym.

8. Stop, start or refund your membership any ……………………………… .

Exercise 2
Preparation task
Complete the sentences with words from the box.

bombard fooled unrelated source

fake subtle phenomenon sure

1. A ……………………………… is something that is designed to look real but isn’t.

2. If you ……………………………… someone with messages or information, you give them so much that it is
difficult to deal with at all.
3. A ……………………………… is a rare or important fact or event.
4. If something is ……………………………… , it is not obvious and it is difficult to notice.
5. If you are ……………………………… , you are tricked into believing something that is not true.
6. If you are ……………………………… about something, you are confident that it is true or correct.
7. If something is ……………………………… to something else, the two things have nothing to do with each
other.
8. A ……………………………… is a thing, person or place that provides information.

Reading text: How to spot fake news

Every time you’re online, you are bombarded by pictures, articles, links and videos trying to tell their story.
Unfortunately, not all of these stories are true. Sometimes they want you to click on another story or
advertisement at their own site, other times they want to upset people for political reasons. These days it’s so
easy to share information. These stories circulate quickly, and the result is … fake news. There is a range of
fake news: from crazy stories which people easily recognise to more subtle types of misinformation. Experts in
media studies and online psychology have been examining the fake news phenomenon. Read these tips, and
don’t get fooled!
1. Check the source
Look at the website where the story comes from. Does it look real? Is the text well written? Are there a variety
of other stories or is it just one story? Fake news websites often use addresses that sound like real newspapers,
but don’t have many real stories about other. If you aren’t sure, click on the ‘About’ page and look for a clear
description of the organisation.

2. Watch out for fake photos

Many fake news stories use images that are Photoshopped or taken from an unrelated site. Sometimes, if you
just look closely at an image, you can see if it has been changed. Or use a tool like Google Reverse Image
search. It will show you if the same image has been used in other contexts.

3. Check the story is in other places

Look to see if the story you are reading is on other news sites that you know and trust. If you do find it on many
other sites, then it probably isn’t fake (although there are some exceptions), as many big news organisations try
to check their sources before they publish a story.

4. Look for other signs

There are other techniques that fake news uses. These include using ALL CAPS and lots of ads that pop up
when you click on a link. Also, think about how the story makes you feel. If the news story makes you angry,
it’s probably designed to make you angry. If you know these things about online news, and can apply them in
your everyday life, then you have the control over what to read, what to believe and most importantly what to
share. If you find a news story that you know is fake, the most important advice is: don’t share it!

Task 1
Circle the best title for the text.

a. Experts share dangers of fake news

b. Experts share top tips for resisting fake news
c. How to create fake news: a guide
d. Tips on how to read the news online

Task 2
Circle the correct answers.

1. Which reason is NOT given for an online fake news story?

a. To convince people of a political view
b. To make people angry or sad
c. To plant a virus in your computer
2. The text says some fake news …
a. is easy to recognise as fake.
b. is funny.
c. comes from the political right.

3. Which of these may mean that a news site should not be trusted?
a. The text is well written.
b. The site has a variety of other stories.
c. The site’s ‘About’ page does not clearly describe the organisation.

4. Some images on fake news …

a. are real images, but come from a different website.
b. are images that have been changed.
c. both the above

5. Fake news stories …

a. are usually only on fake news sites or social media.
b. are not on any websites, only in social media.
c. are often hidden on real news sites.

6. Many fake news stories are written …

a. without capital letters and with terrible spelling.
b. in a way that makes people upset.
c. inside of advertisements that pop up on your screen.

7. What should you do with fake news?

a. Report it to the police
b. Make a note of it for reference
c. Not show it to other people online

8. What is the purpose of this article?

a. To complain
b. To inform
c. To entertain
Answers A2
Ex. 1 Preparation task
1. h
Preparation task 2. d
1. e 3. b
2. a 4. c
3. f 5. f
4. c 6. e
5. d 7. a
6. b 8. g

Task 1 Task1
1. True Charles School
2. True Has all the information about prices in the prospectus
3. True Has exam classes only in the mornings
4. False Has schools in more than one city
5. False
6. False Elizabeth School of English
Has weekend classes
Task 2 Has the most different kinds of classes
1. That sounds like a great idea. Has the most choice about when to study
2. Saturday is better for me. Has courses from £50 per week
3. Why don’t you come here?
4. I want to hear all about your new job. Task 2
5. Call me if you get lost. 1. False
6. Really looking forward to seeing you! 2. True
3. True
4. False
5. True
6. False

Ex. 2
Answers B1

Ex. 1
Ex. 2
Preparation task Preparation task
1. d 1. fake
2. a 2. bombard
3. b 3. phenomenon
4. c 4. subtle
5. f 5. fooled
6. e 6. sure
7. unrelated
Task 1 8. source
1. True
2. False Task1
3. False B
4. True
5. True Task 2
6. False 1. c
7. True 2. a
8. False 3. c
4. c
Task 2 5. a
1. membership 6. b
2. specifically 7. c
3. own 8. b
4. nearby
5. whenever
6. led
7. over
8. time