VIII. Write your answers to the questions in exercise VI.

IX. Complete the description using ’s, isn’t, are, aren’t.

Hi! Here is a photo of our student flats. They are great! There (a) … a gym and a swimming pool. And there (b) … a superb bar, with great music. We go there every night! The flats are really nice. There (c) … four bedrooms in a flat and there (d) … a living room, but the bedrooms (e) … big and comfortable. There (f) … any shops, but there (g) … a supermarket not far away.

10. Complete the text with but, however.

It has been suggested that introducing tests for pre-school children could seriously affect their psychological development. (a) … older children are better able to cope with competition, the instinct to come first has not yet developed in children under four. Forcing them to face the possibility of failure can make them reserved and there have been cases of children as young as four suffering from pre-test stress. (b) … , despite this, the government is still going ahead with plans to introduce entry tests for primary schools.

10. Correct the mistakes in these sentences:

1. She gets her clothes clean in the dry cleaner’s.

2. Don’t you worry, it’s nothing serious, just do these exercises and we’ll get you walk again very soon.

3. She got her bag stealing when she was in the cinema.

4. He got to arrest for shop-lifting.

5. The group were very quit to start with but once the discussion turned to politics we got them all talk.

6. I’ll never forget the time I got flying a plane on my own for the first time.

7. I’m sure you can get her seen your side of the story.

8. Right, you have an hour and a half to finish the exam, so good luck and get to write!

10. Read the text and translate it:

British examinations.

As with almost everything else, examinations have been traditionally independent of government. Once, when there was selection to grammar schools at the age of 11, then there were “11 plus examinations” which marked the end point of primary school education. But since most secondary schools are now comprehensives (grammar school system remain in only a few areas), then the 11+ examination has all but disappeared.

Secondary schools, on the other hand, work to two external examinations. There is at 16, which is the end of compulsory schooling, the General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE). This is single subject based. That is one gets GCSE in particular subjects – not as a result of success in a group of subjects. At the age of 18, most of those who stay on at school (or in colleges of further education) take the General Certificate of Education Advanced Level (‘A’ Level, for short). Once again this is a single subject examination, and students generally take no more than three subjects. ‘A’ Levels are generally seen to be the guarantee of high standards, the preparation for University where traditionally students have concentrated in just one or two subjects. ‘A’ Levels have been referred to as the “jewel in the crown” or the “flagship” of the system. That is important because, even though they are increasingly being criticised, it is very hard politically to reform them.

The origin of the public examination system arouse within the Universities in the last century. University professors wanted a rigorous system of examining to ensure that successful entrants were highly qualified. This is still the case and so there are now five ‘A’ Level Boards – Oxford & Cambridge Board, London Board, Northern Board, Associated Examination Board, and the Welsh Board. Though independent they have for a long time been closely monitored to ensure that standards are roughly equivalent between them. However in the last five years, the government through its School Curriculum and Assessment Authority has been more and more interventionist, stipulating very strict conditions under which the Boards must examine – again an example of increasing government control.

10. Answer the questions:

1. What does “11+ examination” mean? Do pupils in Britain take it now?

2. When does compulsory schooling finish?

3. What exam do pupils take at the end of their compulsory education?

4. What is the difference between GCSE and GCSE ‘A’ Level?

5. How many subjects do they take for GCSE ‘A’ Level?

6. Why did professors want a rigorous system of examining?

7. What ‘A’ Level Boards are there in Britain?

8. How does the government influence the Boards?

XIV. Read the text and translate it with the help of the dictionary.