READING TEST C1

Boost C1 reading skills with practice on volunteering & film reviews! True/False/Not Given & more.

1. Read the guide to teenage volunteering. Are the statements True (T), False (F) or is the information Not Given (NG)? Teenage volunteersGiving back in your free timeVolunteering to help a cause can take on numerous different forms and can be something that takes five minutes or requires a whole day of your time. The beauty of it is that you can choose what works for you and you don’t need specialist experience. Teenagers often come to me full of self-doubt, saying ‘What can we do to help? We don’t have much experience, we don’t have many skills, what can we actually do?’ As a result, I’ve composed this guide to teenage volunteering to help you know where to start.First of all, there are the very straightforward tasks that you may well already do in some form or other. You can have a round-up of old clothes, toys or books in the house and donate them to a charity nearby. Just make sure they are clean and in good condition before you drop them off. If you were feeling a little more creative, you could put together a shoebox from unwanted or used things in your room. There are various charities that take shoeboxes and hand them out at orphanages around the world. You choose an age range and a gender and pack the box full of small gifts for a child. Useful items include soft toys, notebooks and pens or pencils, small toys like yo-yos and little puzzles. Perishable goods and toys with war references, such as soldiers and guns are not permitted. You can have great fun putting together a box for a boy or girl somewhere in the world, knowing that they will really appreciate your donation.If you have more time available, then you could volunteer as a helper at certain events. For example, a lot of the charity runs, such as Race for Life, require volunteers to take registrations prior to the event, hand out water during the race and clean up afterwards. Something else that you can do when you have a couple of hours of free time is join a clean-up or conservation team. Teams like this are often organised to clean up the local park or beach or do some conservation work such as clearing pathways in forests. If you enjoy being outside, then this would be a good opportunity for you to get some fresh air and help your local community.There are a lot of opportunities if you have a certain amount of time to spare on a regular basis, either weekly or fortnightly for instance. Groups like Best Buddies help connect volunteers with children with special needs for a couple of hours. This gives the carers a well-deserved break and gives the children and volunteers a chance to make new friends and interact with different people. Soup kitchens are always on the lookout for an extra pair of hands to help in the kitchen preparing meals or serving them in the centre. Old people’s homes and charities for the elderly always welcome teenage volunteers, too. The volunteers spend time with elderly people talking, playing board games or going for gentle walks. Alternatively, you can deliver meals or food to people who are less mobile and find themselves stuck at home.Most of the above ideas don’t require any specific skills, so anyone could sign up as a volunteer. However, if you have a skill you’d like to practise or improve, then there are even more volunteering opportunities open to you. If you have a good memory or a love of history, then you could become a volunteer in a historical building showing visitors around or answering their questions. A lot of smaller historical buildings don’t have a large budget for guides and are always on the lookout for extra helpers. Alternatively, you could offer your services as a local tour guide if you know the area well and have some interesting stories about local history. If you speak English, or another language, you could volunteer to teach English to groups that can’t afford private tuition. Finally, if you’re good at a particular sport, then you might be able to find a position as an assistant coach in a club.As you can see there is quite a range of voluntary work on offer and there is always a shortage of volunteers as people are so busy these days. So, if you’ve got a spare couple of hours, think about what you could do and what you would enjoy. Don’t worry about doing something you’ve never done before; remember it’s good to step out of your comfort zone. If you need an incentive, just think you’ll be helping to make a difference in your community 1. The majority of people already do fairly straightforward volunteering tasks. True False Not given 2. Volunteering for an event is good if you enjoy working on your own. True False Not given 3. Best Buddies offers carers the chance to have a rest. True False Not given 4. Teenagers often help the elderly by writing correspondence for them. True False Not given 5. Some voluntary work gives you the chance to enhance your skills. True False Not given 6. Local historical buildings have various opportunities for volunteers. True False Not given 2. Read the guide again and complete the notes with ways volunteers can help. Write one or two words in each gap. Event volunteer: (1) register participants hand out items tidy up afterwardsClean-up team: collect litter (2) clear tracks in woodsCharity work: (3) make friendswith children with special needs (4) provide company and conversation to old people deliver meals to those stuck at homeJobs requiring special skills: show people around historical sites (5) become a local tour guide teach English (6) assist the sports coach in a club 3. Read the article about film reviews. For each question (1–6), choose the correct paragraph (A–E). You may choose each paragraph more than once and there may be more than one paragraph for each question. Oh no, not again!AAfter taking a quick glance at the films that have been released over the last few years, it would appear that film-makers are running out of imagination. There are so many sequels, prequels and remakes that it is hard to find an original new film. Trilogies are particularly common, but there are some films that will soon be reaching double figures and are more like a series than individual films. I suppose if a film is successful, then producers think making a sequel or two will be a guaranteed box office hit. Judging by the number of Star Wars or X-Men fans, there are a considerable number of people who enjoy watching the same characters over and over again. I’m not so sure because for me the sequel or remake never seems to be as good as the original. Recently I decided to test this theory and here are the results.BAbout 20 years ago I remember watching Independence Day with Will Smith and really enjoying myself because it was a great action-adventure comedy. So I decided to risk it and see whether Independence Day: Resurgence could live up to the original. Unfortunately, this was not the case. The plot was almost non-existent, so there was a complete lack of coherence between scenes. The actors were very unconvincing, probably not helped by the lack of good dialogue. The characters were very shallow, so it was impossible to empathise with them and I didn’t care who won or lost. Even the corny humour from the first film had gone. The visual and audio effects have come a long way in 20 years and they were very good, but that was not enough to redeem it for me.CEveryone knows the story of The Jungle Book in some form or other. I loved the cartoon version when I was younger. So, for my second film I went to see The Jungle Book to see how the story looked with all the benefits of modern-day special effects. I have to say that I did enjoy the film. The computer-generated imagery was excellent and the CGI characters were very believable. Casting Bill Murray and Ben Kingsley as the voices of Baloo and Bagheera respectively was a great decision. The jungle scenery was beautifully produced and combined well with a rousing soundtrack. However, I found Neel Sethi’s portrayal of the main character, Mowgli, rather wooden. I know he’s very young, but I felt his character could have been developed better. I don’t think it was all the actor’s fault because some of the dialogue was repetitive and overly simplified, but it’s hard to know if there is a star in the making there. All in all, I enjoyed the film but mainly because it is such a good story and it is the story which will stand the test of time, not this particular version of it.DMy last choice was Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. Now I know it’s not strictly a remake or a sequel, but it is very much part of the famous Harry Potter franchise, and I was sceptical about whether Rowling could produce another story that was just as good. Set in New York in 1926, the film is about the author of a book that Harry refers to when he’s at Hogwarts. I did enjoy the film. It is fast-moving, with excellent special effects and some great humour. Eddie Redmayne is excellent in his role as Newt, a quirky character with a great knowledge (and collection) of fantastic beasts. However, it is the computer-generated beasts themselves that steal the show with a cute platypus that likes to steal shiny objects and a wonderful lock-picking, green stick insect. My main criticism is that the plot seemed overcomplicated. There are almost two separate storylines: the one with Newt and his magical suitcase and the other regarding an evil Auror (a kind of police officer for wizards) seeking a powerful magical force. I think Newt and his suitcase would have been quite enough for one film. In addition, there were an excessive number of side characters, which complicated things further. On the whole, I enjoyed the film and I was glad to see it was a completely different story to the Potter series, but it’s not quite as tight as the Potter storyline.EMy conclusion is still that remakes and numerous sequels don’t live up to expectations. I think one film and a sequel can work, but when you look at trilogies and more, then the story and characters become tired and overrated. When doing a remake, there is always the danger that people will remember the first film fondly perhaps more because of when they saw it or the situation they were in at the time, rather than because the film was actually that good. When they see the remake, it can’t live up to the memories. I think the cinematic world of today calls for more new novels and fresh screenplays rather than rehashing the past. It’s time to write out the traditional characters and bring in new spies, superheroes and evil aliens. (do not forget to use capital letters) In which paragraph(s) does the writer …1. say that the film was disappointing despite the latest special effects? B2. mention the substandard conversation in scripts? B, C3. imply that production teams have lost their imagination? A4. praise the excellent music? C5. say that the CGI creatures are the best part? D6. criticise the storyline? B, D 4. Read the article again. Choose the correct answer, A, B, C or D, to complete each statement.1. The writer suggests producers are willing to make sequels ... if the first film was a hit and they can make more money easily when the plot is very good if it enables them to build up a steady fan base. even if the first film is not a box office hit. 2. The writer said ... he really enjoyed Independence Day and the sequel. he thoroughly enjoyed Independence Day, but the sequel didn’t live up to his expectations. he found the sequel to Independence Day an improvement on the original. he thought Independence Day and the sequel were good action comedies. 3. The writer said that in Independence Day: Resurgence ... the characters were unconvincing and uninteresting. he found himself able to empathise with the characters. he felt there was some empathy lacking in the lead role the actors really brought the characters to life. 4. The writer felt the actor who played Mowgli ... would shoot to fame before too long. was brave to take on such a famous role. was limited somewhat by the boring dialogue he had. portrayed the character very well. 5. The writer wanted to see Fantastic Beasts because ... he was a big fan of the author of the Harry Potter series he was curious as to whether the author could be successful with a different story. he’s seen all the Harry Potter films and read the books. fantasy films are his favourite genre. 6. The writer suggests viewers’ memories of watching an original film can ... be affected by the situations or emotions at the time of watching the film. be impaired by other people’s opinions of the film. change over time as their memories fade. depend on what happened to them when they saw the original film. 5. Read the article about links between parents' and children's careers. Six paragraphs have been removed. For gaps 1–6, choose from the paragraphs (A–G). There is one extra paragraph. Nepotism or genesThere have been numerous discussions about nature versus nurture and which affects a person’s personality more. Some scientists have argued that birth order plays a part in developing a person’s character, too. There’s also the possibility that your social environment affects how your character develops. Not only can these factors affect a person’s character, they also have some influence on what job a person decides to choose as this stems in part from a person’s personality. However, regarding jobs there is another point to consider, which is parental influence.In Victorian times, some 150 years ago, people’s careers were usually mapped out for them. In those days society was divided into different classes and it was very difficult to cross the barrier from one to the other. In addition, formal education was still in its infancy, and a full-time education was only open to the rich and to boys.(1) …………As a result, many people followed the career of their parents. In the late 1800s at least 75% of working-class girls followed in their mother’s footsteps. In the case of the upper class, men would inherit their parents’ wealth, title and job and continue the tradition as lord of the manor or political leader for instance, while the women would get married. The middle class would naturally pass their knowledge on to their children as they grew up, so it was likely that a doctor’s son would become a doctor and so on.(2) …………Nowadays society is much changed. First of all, education is obligatory for everyone up until a certain age. In addition, there is much more fluidity between classes. There is also a greater variety of career options due to globalisation and the expansion of technology among other things. However, there are still some links between the careers of parents and children.(3) …………It isn’t really surprising that there would be a link between the careers of parents and children. After all the parents’ careers usually become part of the household culture. A parent that is an architect, for example, is likely to discuss buildings and their structures with their children and it may awaken an interest in them.(4) …………Indeed, there are quite a few celebrity entertainers who have followed in one of their parents’ footsteps. Kate Hudson, for example, is an actress just like her mother Goldie Hawn, Julio and Enrique Iglesias are wellknown Spanish singers and The Smiths (Will, Jada, Jaden and Willow) are a real family of entertainers, all being actors in television or film.(5) …………So, being familiar with these cases, a lot of people might think that following in a parent’s footsteps makes having a successful career easier because they can use their parent’s name to get on to the ladder. However, it often works in the opposite way. Children of successful parents in the same career feel they have to work harder to prove they can be successful in their own right. They also have a very high standard to follow. Indeed, there seems to be an increasing trend to strike out in a different direction so that they don’t build a career in the shadow of their parent’s success.(6) …………In this day and age where choosing a career path is very much up to the child rather than the parent and with such a variety of options, it is not surprising that many children strike out in a different direction. However, those that do follow their parents’ line of work, could be doing so for a variety of reasons. They might be paying their parents a compliment by showing they want to be like their role model. Alternatively, it might have become part of their culture. Finally, it could simply be part of their genetic inheritance. AIt isn’t just entertainers who pass on the career bug to their children though. George Bush Senior and George W Bush have to be one of the most famous examples of father and son politicians, being the 41st and 43rd US presidents respectively.BIt’s also interesting to look at how the parents’ influence affects the different children in a family. According to data, the firstborn is more likely to follow in their parents’ footsteps as a way to please them. However, younger children will make their own way in the world.CMilitary families, for example, seem to keep the tradition in the family, with fathers who were in the Army, Navy or Air Force often having a son or daughter who follows in their footsteps. Farming is another career which still, to some degree, runs in the family.DThe working class were in a similar situation. In addition, for many working-class children, as there was no formal education, they started working for their parents as soon as they could to increase the family income, learning the trade in the process. Fishermen, carpenters, blacksmiths and tradesmen all followed this pattern.EAn entertainer is likely to expose their children to the world of performing in some way if they accompany their parents backstage or on a film shoot.FFor instance, Harrison Ford’s son is a successful chef and Paul McCartney’s daughter is a very well-known fashion designer. In many ordinary families, the parents are actively pushing their children to follow a different career. With record numbers of students going to university, there is a push for the younger generation to improve their job prospects and do better than their parents.GIndeed, women in that era had much less choice than men in career options, as the woman’s place was considered to be in the home, at least for those in the middle and upper classes. (Write the answers with capital letters) 1 G 2 D 3 C 4 E 5 A 6 F 6. Read the article again and complete the summary. Write one word from the text in each gap. The article discusses the possibility of children being influenced by their parents when they (1) choose their career. In Victorian times it was common to have the same job as your parent because it was difficult to cross the class barrier and formal education was not (2) obligatory, unlike today. Nowadays, society is more fluid and there is a greater (3) variety of career choices. It’s unsurprising that parents influence their children’s career choices because their careers are often part of the household (4) culture. Quite a few celebrities have followed in their parents’ footsteps. This doesn’t necessarily mean you achieve success more easily. On the contrary, many people find they have to work harder to be successful in their own right. Some children prefer to choose their own path so that they don’t work in their parents’ (5) shadow. In addition, more parents are encouraging them to do this in the hope that they will get a (6) better job.