bridge_kompletní maturitní speciál leden-únor 2012

www.bridge-online.cz Geography | 1

05–06

The Easy Way to English

maturita special

CZK 38 (30 copies and more)CZK 40 (11–29 copies)CZK 50 (1–10 copies) VAT included

subscription price:+

Cd with listening exercises dvd with samples of speaking exercises Cd with task sheets for the 3rd part of the oral exam

tests for two levels with help for students

january–fEbruary 2012 VolumE 15

Subject to the conditions on p. 2

Lower Level 4–7 Listening

Lower Level 8–16 Reading

Sample PET Test 17 Listening Parts 3–4

Lower Level 18–19 Writing

Lower Level 20–23 Speaking

Higher Level 24–27 Listening

Higher Level 28–37 Reading

Higher Level 38–39 Writing

Higher Level 40–43 Speaking

Nature / UK 44–45 Top Landmarks in the UK

Maturita Topics 46 The UK, Ireland, The USA

Maturita Topics 47 Canada, Australia, New Zealand

Maturita Topics 48 The Czech Republic, Prague, London

Maturita Topics 49 American Cities, UK and US Holidays, Czech Holidays

Maturita Topics 50 Shakespeare, The EU, Education in the UK

Comic Strip 51 Garfield

ExTra arTiCLES on www.bridge-online.cz

The European Union

předplatné časopisu Bridge 2011/12bridge vychází od září do května: 8 vydání (3x dvojnásobný rozsah, 1x maturitní speciál)

Jak [email protected]

tel./Fax241 443 003, 241 444 242, 604 249 363, 724 085 053

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30 a více kusů:cena: 190 Kč / rok vč. DPH

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4x cdnové maturity, písničky

1x film na dVdanglický film s doplňkovými materiály

1x metodické dVdaktivity a cvičení k videonahrávkám

výuková mapailustrovaná mapa s popisky

7x maturitní kartatextová a obrazová pomůcka vztahující se k maturitním tématům

1x cdTextové materiály k nové maturitě

Bonusy k předplatnému 2011/12

klíč pro Bonusy a časopisy zdarma11–29 ks = 1 ks 30–60 ks = 2 ks 61–90 ks = 3 ks 91–120 ks = 4 ks 121–150 ks = 5 ks

151–180 ks = 6 ks 181–200 ks = 7 ks 201–300 ks = 8–10 ks301 a více ks = 10–12 ksDle dohody s redakcí

počet dVd na školu11–99 ks = 1 DVD100 a více ks = 2 DVD(zasíláme na jednu adresu – školu, instituci)

V příštím čísleBřeznové číslo vychází 27. 2. 2012. Spolu s ním dostanou odběratelé 11 a více kusů časopisu ilustrovanou mapu České republiky, kterou lze rovněž využít při přípravě na maturitu.

bonusy k předplatnému zasíláme odběratelům od 11 ks během školního roku dle uvedeného klíče.

c o n t e n t s

3

BRIDGe | January–February | 2012

i n F o

Bridgerok s rokem se sešel a je tady opět čas na Maturitní

speciál, který vám přináší pomoc při přípravě na maturitní zkoušku z anglického jazyka i něco navíc – možnost pobavit se s oblíbenými komiksovými postavami, přečíst si zajímavý článek a procvičit si angličtinu prostřednictvím různých aktivit.

Maturitní speciál již tradičně přináší 40 stran cvičení a testů ve dvou úrovních obtížnosti k procvičení dovedností nezbytných k úspěšnému zvládnutí maturitní zkoušky, tj. poslechu, čtení a písemného a ústního projevu. Testové úlohy jsou stejně jako v loňském roce pro studenty doplněny o rady ve sloupku Help a doplňkové aktivity do výuky jsou pod hlavičkou Let’s Practise. A protože jsme časopis pro širokou škálu čtenářů, nejen maturanty, texty a články ke cvičením jsme se snažili volit tak, aby byly tematicky rozmanité a snad posloužily i jako zdroj poučení či zábavy. Na konec časopisu jsme navíc zařadili stručně zpracovaná nejběžnější maturitní témata.

Nezapomněli jsme ani na přílohy – kromě CD se sadami pracovních listů ke třetí části ústní zkoušky jsme pro vás připravili i DVD s videonahrávkami a aktivitami k procvičování dovedností ověřovaných v ústní zkoušce a také kulturní okénko ve formě ukázky z divadelního představení.

Věříme, že pro vás bude časopis Bridge i jeho Maturitní speciál v roce 2012 dobrým pomocníkem při přípravě na maturitní zkoušku.

s přáním úspěšného roku 2012 Jana pernicová a redakce Bridge

volume 15 issue 05–06(January–February 2012)Monthly magazine for English-language students

Bridge Publishing HouseŠevce Matouše 22140 00 Praha 4

informationsPhone: 241 444 242604 249 363724 085 053

registration in the CrMK ČR E 7634

Bank accountBanka ČSOB, Praha 4account no.: 111790180/0300

Editor-in-chiefMarie Šormová [email protected] Phone: 241 445 735

Senior marketing managerJan Dosoudil [email protected]: 241 444 272

Editors Jacy Meyer, Jana Pernicová, Zuzana Pernicová, Ryan Scott, Josef Šorm, Michael [email protected] Phone: 241 444 268

CorrespondentsMonica Boháčová, Vít Bohal, Pearl Harris, Jane Haward, Nigel Haward, Alex Jordan, Mary Matz, Patrick Phillips, Hana Škrdlová

ProofreadingGareth Bowers

SubscriptionMichaela HardtováPhone: 241 443 003

PhotoArchive, Allphoto, iStockphoto

Graphic designPavel and Ondřej Strnad

PrintingČeská Unigrafie, a. s.

Publication date23. 1. 2012

The magazine does not accept advertisements.

Maturitní speCiál

Toto vydání vychází v rozsahu 52 stran (za cenu běžného dvojčísla) a je zaměřeno především na novou maturitu. Obsah připravili odborníci a rodilí mluvčí pod vedením Mgr. Jany Pernicové.

Bonusy• CDs poslechovýmitestyve dvou

úrovních obtížnosti• CDsezpracovanými3.částmi

pracovních listů pro učitele i studenta k ústní části maturitní zkoušky (ve dvou úrovních obtížnosti, specifická i odborná témata)

• DVDs videonahrávkami a aktivitami k ústní části nové maturity a ukázkou z představení The Bear Educational Theatre

doplňkové materiályTF – recording Scripts: přepisy poslechových testů, řešení úloh z časopisu

bridge-online.czNa www.bridge-online.cz naleznete v sekci “Maturitníspeciál” mnoho dalších materiálů vhodných k přípravě na maturitu. Například:• Maturitnítémata zpracovaná

formou článků – anglicky mluvící země, ČR, literatura apod. (již více než 50 článků)

• Maturitníkarty (již 29 témat)•Metodickélisty věnované

různým dovednostem (speaking, writing atd.)

• Poslechovácvičenía řešeníúlohzestaršíchMaturitníchspeciálů

metodická videaNa webové stránce Bridge v sekci “Učitelé – Metodická videa” naleznete nová videa zaměřená na ústní část maturitní zkoušky. Heslo pro přístup do sekce “Učitelé” najdete na úvodní stránce materiálu Teachers’ File, který je distribuován vyučujícím společně s časopisem.

key to icons

cD

DVD

Fotosoutěž

The right time, The right angleDěkujeme všem, kdo se zúčastnili velké celoroční fotosoutěže! Do redakce nám již dorazily stovky příspěvků a průběžně je zveřejňujeme na facebookové stránce “Bridge Magazine”, kde můžete rovněž hlasovat pro své favority. Pokud jste ještě žádné soutěžní fotografie neposlali, máte šanci do 1. března2012. Podrobná pravidla naleznete na www.bridge-online.cz v sekci “Soutěže”.

Vážení čtenáři,

let’s practisesolutionsp. 7: 1E, 2B, 3C, 4A, 5D

p. 19: oposite opposite, than then, heed head, midle middle, bilding building

p. 27: both, the same, similar/-ly, also, as well, like, just asp. 31: 1C, 2Ap. 36: A

CDJanuary–February 2012

Sample Tests to Practise for the Maturita Exam

2012 | January–February | BRIDGe

l o w e r l e V e l / L i S t e n i n g4

1 What time will the flight to Buenos Aires leave? A) B) c)

2 What made the woman angry? A) B) c)

3 What should the student do with the key? A) B) c)

4 What is the man going to do this weekend? A) B) c)

5 How will the man travel to Vienna? A) B) c)

listening

part oneYou will hear people talking in five different situations. For questions 1–5, choose the correct picture: A, B or c.

Uslyšíte pět krátkých poslechových nahrávek. Každou nahrávku uslyšíte dvakrát, ale čas mezi nahrávkami je jen tak dlouhý, kolik je nezbytné pro krátké promyšlení odpovědi a její zapsání.

Je velmi důležité, abyste se s otázkou a obrázky seznámili před prvním poslechem. Přečtěte si pozorně otázku a přemýšlejte o tom, na co se máte soustředit. Pak si prohlédněte obrázky. Soustřeďte se na to, v čem se obrázky shodují a v čem liší.

Odpovědi (nebo alespoň své poznámky ve formě značek) si zaznamenávejte již během poslechu přímo k alternativám, respektive obrázkům. Pokud jste si svou odpovědí již po prvním poslechu jisti, označte správný obrázek . Pokud si nejste úplně jisti, udělejte si u něj nějakou značku, např.: (?) nebo (•),alejeto samozřejmě na vás. Zkuste během poslechu také eliminovat alternativy / obrázky, u kterých rozhodně víte, že nejsou správnými odpověďmi (). Při vhodném značení alternativ se budete při druhém poslechu moci soustředit jen na to, co vám chybí nebo kde si nejste jisti. Můžete postupovat např. takto:

U prvníúlohysi nejprve přečtěte otázku. Prohlédněte si letmo obrázky, respektive časy, které alternativy nabízejí. V otázce si podtrhněte klíčové výrazy:

1 What time will the flight to Buenos Aires leave?

V tomto případě není podtrženo What time, protože to je z obrázků jasné. Během poslechu se musíte soustředit na to, kdy odlétá letadlo do Buenos Aires. Nezajímají vás letadla do a z jiných destinací apod. Během poslechu je vaším úkolem zachytit hlavní body, to znamená, že máte posoudit různé časy nebo informace o časech a máte pochopit, který z nich je ten správný.

Například u úlohy3si v otázce podtrhněte tato klíčová slova:

3 What should the student do with the key?

Z obrázků zjistíte: Má dát klíč někomu? Nebo ho má položit vedle počítače? Nebo ho má pověsit mezi ostatní klíče?

Zajímá vás, jestli to student má / nemá udělat, a také to, zda na toto místo má dát klíč student nebo někdo jiný.

H e l p


l o w e r l e V e l / L i S t e n i n g 5

l e t ’ s p r a c t i s e

coMPARInG PIctURes / GIVInG InstRUctIons

A Look at pictures A and B and compare them using the following expressions: but, both, however, as well, whereas, the same.

part twoYou will hear a conversation between a man and a woman about taking pictures. For questions 6–14, decide if each statement is true (t) or false (F).

t F6 James wants to take a picture of Lisa in front of the castle.

7 There are some people with a dog standing in front of the castle.

8 it took James and Lisa two hours to get to the castle.

9 Lisa’s dog is called Andy.

10 Lisa’s best friend lives in London.

11 James took a picture of Lisa and her dog.

12 James is afraid his camera might break.

13 James got the camera for his birthday.

14 James is instructing Lisa how to operate the camera.

Před vyslechnutím nahrávky máte čas na seznámení se s úlohami. Využijte tento čas nejen k přečtení úloh, ale i k promyšlení toho, na co se máte v poslechu soustředit. Zkuste odhadnout, které výrazy / části tvrzení jsou klíčové, a tyto si podtrhněte.

V tvrzení k úloze 6 chce James něco / někoho vyfotit. Bude to Lisa, nebo někdo jiný / něco jiného? A bude-li to Lisa, bude stát před hradem, nebo jinde?

6 James wants to take a picture of Lisa in front of the castle.

Najít klíčový výraz (na co se máme během poslechu soustředit) v tvrzení úlohy9je snadné. Bude se pes jmenovat Andy, nebo má jiné jméno? Andy také nemusí být nutně jméno psa (může se tak jmenovat např. Lisina kočka nebo kamarád). V nahrávce patrně uslyšíte více jmen.

9 Lisa’s dog is called Andy.

H e l p

B Imagine your friend has borrowed your camera and wants to take some pictures. However, he/she does not know how to operate it. Give him/her instructions using the phrases in the column on the right.

UseFUL cAMeRA PHRAses

to take a picture / photo (pořídit fotografii)to shoot a scene / a person / a landscape (fotografovat, natáčet)to look through the viewfinder (dívat se do hledáčku)to zoom in / zoom out (přiblížit / oddálit)to focus / get something into focus (zaostřit)to be blurry (být rozmazaný, neostrý)to press the shutter (stisknout spoušť)snapshot (momentka)lens (objektiv)tripod (stativ)flash (blesk)to have the flash on / off (mít zapnutý / vypnutý blesk)SLR camera (zrcadlovka)

a B


l o w e r l e V e l / L i S t e n i n g6

part tHreeYou will hear a reporter talking about a “pod”, a vehicle which offers a new form of public transport at Heathrow Airport. For questions 15–22, fill in the missing information. Do not write more than three words for your answers. There is an example (0) done for you.

the Heathrow ‘pod’The reporter’s name is (0) Nigel Melville.The pods connect Heathrow’s Terminal 5 and its (15) _________ .The pods can travel at a maximum speed of (16) _________ mph (miles per hour). One pod can transport four passengers and their (17) _________ .The journey from start to destination takes (18) _________ minutes.When a passenger gets into the pod, he/she selects the route and presses the (19) _________ button. The pod service runs 20 hours on (20) _________ .A pod uses 70 percent less energy per* passenger than a (21) _________ .The pods will carry (22) _________ passengers a year.

*per – na (osobu / pasažéra)


DescRIBInG oBjects AnD coMPARInG DIFFeRent MeAns oF tRAnsPoRt• Look at the picture of a pod.

Imagine you have to describe a pod to someone who has never seen one. Use the following points:

sIze sHAPe DesIGn

coLoUR otHeR

• After completing the listening exercise, try to compare a pod with a car, bus or another means of transport. The following ideas may help you:

soURce oF eneRGy

sHAPe sIze

ecoLoGIcAL AsPects

PAssenGeRs

on‑BoARD enteRtAInMent

coMFoRt sPAce

conVenIence PRIVAcy

Driverless pod cars transport passengers around London's Heathrow airport. Využijte čas před vyslechnutím nahrávky k promyšlení typu informace, která vás u každé úlohy zajímá. Neváhejte si důležité věci podtrhnout nebo si udělat poznámku. Např. z tvrzení úlohy16je zřejmé, že potřebujete zjistit rychlost „podů“. Odpovědí bude tedy číslo. A i když není jednotka v km/h, určitě tento dopravní prostředek nepojede např. 300 mil za hodinu.

18 Kolik minut může trvat cesta? Je nepravděpodobné, že by trvala např. 246 minut.

Postupujte stejně u všech úloh.

Nezapomeňte, že vaše odpověď nesmí mít víc než 3 výrazy (slova, čísla). I když se pravopis v odpovědích v těchto úlohách nehodnotí jako chyba, snažte se napsat odpovědi správně. Vaše odpověď musí být jasně rozpoznatelná / srozumitelná. Musíte psát čitelně.

H e l p


l o w e r l e V e l / L i S t e n i n g 7


In the first recording, you will hear somebody talking about some injuries and health problems. Practise speaking about the following health problems (A–e).

can you match the names with the pictures?

A) cold / runny nose

B) stomach ache

C) headache

D) sore throat

e) flu / temperature

part FourYou will hear people talking in five different situations. For questions 23–27, choose the correct answer: A, B or c.

23 What is the woman’s health problem?

A) She’s got the flu.

B) She’s got a cold.

C) She’s broken her arm.

24 Why does john think he will do better in the test than Mary?

A) Because he prepared for the exam.

B) Because he usually gets good marks.

C) Because Mary played video games all week.

25 When is the manager arriving at Heathrow Airport?

A) 10:40 a.m.

B) 1:30 p.m.

C) 2:45 p.m.

26 Why is the man complaining?

A) He isn’t enjoying himself.

B) His bag is too heavy.

C) He is thirsty.

27 Why is the woman upset with her son?

A) He didn’t tidy his room.

B) He didn’t do the shopping.

C) He didn’t put the shopping away.

L a n g u a g e p o i n t •You will hear a speaker using one of these interjections in one of the recordings. In general, for most people, they have the same sound, but they are spelt differently in BrE and AmE.

Erm... Umm...H e l p

Přečtěte si pozorně každou otázku. Z ní se dozvíte nejen to, kdo bude hovořit nebo o kom bude řeč, ale i to, na co se máte v nahrávce soustředit. Klíčové výrazy v otázce si můžete opět podtrhnout.

Např. v úloze 23 bude hovořit žena nebo se přinejmenším bude hovořit o ní. Důležité je zjistit, jaký má žena zdravotní problém. Během poslechu patrně uslyšíte zmínku o všech zdravotních problémech uvedených v alternativách (flu, cold, broken arm). Vaším úkolem je postihnout

hlavní body nahrávky, tzn. pochopit, který z uvedených zdravotních problémů se v tuto chvíli týká ženy, nikoli někoho jiného nebo jiného období, např. minulosti.

V úloze 24 potřebujete zjistit důvod, proč si John myslí, že uspěje v testu lépe než Mary. Uslyšíte tedy hovořit Johna a Mary, nebo bude John o Mary mluvit. Během poslechu se musíte soustředit nejen na nabídky důvodů A–C (předem si je v alternativách podtrhněte), ale i na to, co říká Mary a co John.

For each health problem, try to say at least one sentence using the points below:

• symptoms • cure • personal experience

1

2

3 4 5


l o w e r l e V e l / R e A D i n g8

part oneRead the following five shorts texts. For questions 1–5, choose the best answer: A, B, c or D.

2 What should Dylan do?

A) Contact Brenda after calling the restaurant.

B) go to the restaurant to confirm their reservation.

C) Call Brenda after he arrives at the restaurant.

D) phone the restaurant on his way to meet Brenda.

Dylan,I won’t have time to go to the restaurant to confirm our reservations for this evening. Can you call the restaurant and confirm the reservations before you leave the house? Let me know what time we should meet.

Brenda

The post office has long been a core part of almost every community in America, yet the future looks bad for the United States Postal Service. To cut its $10bn deficit, the USPS is considering cutting 120,000 jobs and shutting more than 3,500 post offices. Evan Kalish, a 25-year-old graduate student, is trying to visit as many as possible before they are closed down. So far he has collected postmarks at more than 2,700 post offices across the US. Crisscrossing the country, even going as far as Hawaii, Evan is chronicling the slow death of an institution originally founded in 1775.

1 What is the best heading for this news item?

A) Death of a stuDent in a post office

B) a stuDent wants to save american post offices

C) Disappearing american post offices

D) SeARCHing FoR tHe oLDeSt american post office

reading


l o w e r l e V e l / R e A D i n g 9

3 What is said about the book Of Mice and Men in the text?

A) The book is Michael gove’s favourite.

B) The book is popular because of its length.

C) Michael gove wants all students to read the book.

D) The theme of the book is not suitable for students.

UK Secretary of State for Education Michael Gove says students should read more books. He says that some students only read two books in the academic year, and that a departmental survey in England suggested that “over 90% of schools teach Of Mice and Men to their GCSE students”. Gove announced plans to restructure the curriculum and wants works such as Of Mice and Men to lose their regular position on reading lists.

But why does a novella written in 1937 about displaced ranch workers during the Great Depression hold such popularity in schools? It is because this Steinbeck classic is short, comprising only six chapters, and its theme of bullying continues to be relevant to 21st century society.

4 How was Alice feeling in the extract?

A) She was bored.

B) She was excited.

C) She was troubled.

D) She was enjoying herself.

ALICE was beginning to get very tired of sitting by her sister on the bank and of having nothing to do: once or twice she had peeped into the book her sister was reading, but it had no pictures or conversations in it, "and what is the use of a book," thought Alice, "without pictures or conversations?'

So she was considering, in her own mind (as well as she could, for the hot day made her feel very sleepy and stupid), whether the pleasure of making a daisy-chain would be worth the trouble of getting up and picking the daisies, when suddenly a White Rabbit with pink eyes ran close by her. (Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, by Lewis Carroll)

PARKINGIS PROHIBITED

EMERGENCY VEHICLES

ONLY

Než začnete číst text, přečtěte si vždy nejprve otázku – z otázky zjistíte, proč budete text číst a na co se máte soustředit. Otázka vám také může pomoci zvolit vhodnou strategii čtení.

Např. v úloze 1 je z otázky zřejmé, že vás zajímá text jako celek, potřebujete pochopit hlavní myšlenku. Pokud některý výraz v textu neznáte, nebude pro pochopení hlavní myšlenky textu důležitý. Soustřeďte se na text jako celek. V alternativách si podtrhněte klíčové výrazy, na které se máte zaměřit. O čem je text? O smrti (death) studenta? O tom, že chce student něco zachránit (save)? O tom, že něco mizí (disappearing)? O hledání (searching) nejstarší (the oldest) pošty?

Proč budete číst úlohu 2? Abyste zjistili, co má Dylan udělat (What should Dylan do?). Budou vás tedy zajímat konkrétní informace. Ke komu se informace vztahují (k Brendě / Dylanovi)? Jaký je sled událostí? Má Dylan kontaktovat Brendu? A pokud ano, pak kdy? Před zavoláním do restaurace, anebo po něm? Najděte v textu důležité informace. Podtrhněte si je. Co chce Brenda po Dylanovi? … Can YOU call the restaurant and confirm the reservations…

Postupujte obdobně i u ostatních úloh. Podtrhávejte si v úlohách i v textu, nikoli však bezmyšlenkovitě.

H e l p

5 Which of the following sentences is true?

A) everybody is allowed to park here.

B) You can park here if you have a permit.

C) You can only park here in an emergency.

D) only certain types of transportation may park here.


10 l o w e r l e V e l / R e A D i n g

part tworead the website information about the Kakadu national park and some of the walking tours there. For questions 6–14, decide if each statement is true (t) or false (F).

t F6 Australia’s northern territory was called gaagudju by the Aboriginal people.

7 i can get to Gunlom in the Kakadu National Park only with a tour operator.

8 i can stay in the park overnight only with a tour group.

9 The best time to take the Barrk Sandstone Walk track is before 10 am.

10 The last part of the Barrk Sandstone Walk is less difficult than the first part.

11 i can see the wallaroo from the Barrk Sandstone Walk track.

12 i will not see any posts or orange arrows on the Motor Car Creek Walk.

13 The Bardedjilidji Walk is shorter during the wet season than in the summer season.

14 i will not be able to enjoy a swim on any of the walks.

Úlohy jsou umístěny před textem záměrně – potřebujete vědět, co máte hledat. Nejprve se letmo seznamte s textem.Rychle a zběžně ho projděte, abyste získali představu o tématu / obsahu a organizaci textu. Nečtěte text podrobně (ztratíte důležitý čas). Letmo projděte úlohy a pak s nimi začněte pracovat. Pořadí úloh odpovídá pořadí informací v textu. U některých úloh však budete muset porovnávat informace z více částí textu!

Podtrhávejte si klíčové výrazy v textu i úloze, např.:

7 I can get to Gunlom in the Kakadu National Park only with a tour operator.

H e l p

Common wallaroo rock art

Jim Jim FallsMassive cathedral termite mounds


The name Kakadu comes from the incorrect pronunciation of ‘Gaagudju’, which is the name of an Aboriginal language formerly spoken in the northern part of the park.

The Kakadu National Park is only three hours from Darwin. The easiest way to get to the park is by coach tour or by hiring a car, and travelling from Darwin or Katherine. Visitors can experience the Kakadu National Park with a recognised tour operator or they can drive themselves. Many of the park’s sites are accessible by standard two‑wheel‑drive vehicles, but areas like Twin and Jim Jim Falls and Gunlom require four‑wheel‑drive vehicles.

Access to most tracks is best from May to October during the dry season. The walks in Kakadu can range from a short half‑hour walk to an overnight hike. Overnight or longer walks require permits and local knowledge so joining a tour group is necessary.

All the walks start and finish at the car park. The short walks are marked with either yellow‑topped posts or orange arrows on rocks. Tracks longer than 10 kilometers are not marked.

Barrk Sandstone Walk is a 12-kilometre trek through the sandstone country of Nourlangie Rock. The first section of the walk is the most challenging, taking in a steep walk to the top of Burrungui / Nourlangie Rock. This part is a difficult grade and you should allow two to three hours to complete it. Start early in the morning, no later than 10 am. Walk slowly and rest often.

Barrk is the Bininj name for the male black wallaroo, a dark‑coloured member of the kangaroo family. They live well hidden from the eyes of tourists in the remote and inaccessible stone country of Kakadu. The powerful and swift Barrk is completely adapted to its environment and is one of the least‑sighted members of the kangaroo family.

The Yurmikmik Walks is a series of interconnected walking tracks that are particularly enjoyable in the wet season. Notice the contrast as you walk from the cool creeks and monsoon forests to the heat of the open woodlands, and from the trees in the woodland valley to the stunted rocky ridge and plateau vegetation.

Motor Car Creek Walk This 11-kilometre return walk follows the Motor Car Creek downstream to a series of lower waterfalls. The adventurous may continue along the creek to the South Alligator River. Estuarine (saltwater) crocodiles live in the river so do not swim there! Return the way you came. This walk is most enjoyable in the wet season. Carry a topographic map and compass or a GPS on this track.

Gunlom Lookout Walk There are some great natural sandstone formations that you can climb to get to a natural waterfall and a series of pools. These are great swimming holes, as they are cool, clear and croc-free water. A steep climb to the top of the waterfall provides sweeping views of the southernmost parts of Kakadu National Park while you enjoy a relaxing dip in the crystal clear pools. Enter the water at your own risk.

Bardedjilidji WalkThrough woodlands and wetlands alongside the East Alligator River, this is one of Kakadu’s most interesting short walks, which starts at a small car park 500 metres from the upstream boat ramp on the East Alligator River. Allow two hours for this easy to moderate 2.5-kilometre walk. Estuarine (saltwater) crocodiles inhabit the waters here. Do not enter the water under any circumstances. This walk is open in the dry season. Part of it is open during the wet season.

The Kakadu National Park, in Australia’s Northern Territory, is one of only a handful of UNESCO world heritage sites listed for both their natural and cultural values. Kakadu’s dramatic landscape, Aboriginal cultural significance and diverse wildlife are what visitors are drawn to.

11l o w e r l e V e l / R e A D i n g

BUSHWALKING IN THE KAKADU NATIONAL PARK



part ThreeRead the article about a cat. For questions 15–20, choose the correct answer: A, B, c or D.

a cat storyTimes are difficult in Britain, with everyone finding that they have less money than before. For some people, feeding their pets has become too expensive. There are animal centres where unwanted pets can go so that caring people can look after them. But not everybody uses this useful service when keeping their pet becomes a problem; there are also a few people who get rid of their pets in a very cruel manner.

A man who was taking a walk in Cambridgeshire last month saw a car speeding along the road. Suddenly, the door of the car opened and a cat was thrown out of the moving car onto the grass at the edge of the road. The car left the scene without stopping. The cat rolled over and over and then collapsed in pain. Fortunately, it was not injured too badly and ran off into the wood.

For a whole week the man kept returning to the place to look for the cat. Finally, he managed to catch the cat and put her in a box. When he returned home with the box, he called the local RSPCA* inspector, who took the cat to an animal centre. There, a vet* examined the cat and decided the animal was in good condition except for some cuts and bruises.

However, he also realised that the female cat was a mother and was still feeding her kittens. But where were the kittens?

The vet knew he must find the kittens quickly or they would die of hunger, so he decided to try an experiment. He took the cat back to the side of the road. When he let the cat go, she walked a few metres, turned round, meowed loudly, looked the vet in the eye and then walked a little further. She turned round again. It was as if the cat wanted the vet to follow her.

The vet was excited. He followed the cat for almost 300 metres; through the wood, across a field and into a farmyard. He searched the place and eventually came upon the kittens in a barn. Hearing their mum the kittens called out to her because they were hungry. When the cat finished feeding her kittens, the vet picked them all up and took them back to the warm veterinary surgery. When he was sure that the kittens were in good condition, the animal centre found a new caring home for them all.

* rSPCa – Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. An organisation that looks after animal welfare and runs centres to look after cats, dogs and other animals until they can be found a new home.

* vet – short form of ‘veterinary surgeon’. Like doctors, they are highly qualified, and treat sick and injured animals.



15 What is the author trying to do in the text? to show that

A) animals who live in the wild can learn to live with people.

B) people shouldn’t give their pets away for any reason.

C) animals sometimes can communicate with people.

D) domestic cats are more clever than wild cats.

16 What does the author think about animal centres?

A) He sees them as a problem.

B) He is for animal centres.

C) He thinks they don’t help animals.

D) He thinks they are too expensive.

17 Which of the following is the best description of what the man saw on his walk?

A) A cat was run over by a speeding car.

B) A cat ran out of the wood right under the wheels of a car.

C) Somebody got rid of a cat by throwing it out of his/her car.

D) Somebody stopped his/her car and threw a cat out of the open door.

18 What did the man do with the cat in the box?

A) He asked a vet from the animal centre to contact the rspca inspector.

B) He contacted a vet from the nearest animal centre.

C) he gave the cat to the rspca inspector.

D) He took the cat to an animal centre.

19 Why did the vet take the cat back to the road? Because

A) he wanted to get rid of the cat.

B) he wanted to find the owner of the cat.

C) he thought the cat didn’t want her kittens.

D) he thought the cat could lead him to her kittens.

20 How does this article end?

A) The cat was adopted; the kittens were not.

B) The kittens were adopted; the cat wasn’t.

C) The vet kept the cat and all the kittens.

D) The cat and all its kittens were adopted.

Využívejte základní strategie čtení a řešení úloh – nejprve si přečtěte instrukce (pozorně), abyste zjistili, o čem text bude a co máte dělat. Pak si zběžně prohlédněte otázky, abyste se zorientovali v dovednostech, které jsou ověřovány. Úlohy jsou řazeny tak, jak jdou informace k úlohám v textu, vyjma první úlohy, kde budete muset přečíst celý text, abyste mohli odpovědět.

Pro vyřešení úloh nepořebujete znát význam všech výrazů v textu. Zkuste také odhadovat význam výrazů z textu. Obrázek je pouze ilustrací, která vám má přiblížit téma.

H e l p



part FourRead the items about five students who are visiting Chicago for one day. They have just arrived in Chicago and are deciding where to go and what to do in the city. For questions 21–25, decide which place (A–G) would be the most suitable for each student (21–25). There are two extra options you will not use.

22 sam ______

This is not Sam’s first visit to Chicago. During his first visit, he went sightseeing and admired the sea life in the aquarium, so now he wants to see something else. He is really fascinated by space travel and dreams of being able to fly. Ironically, though, he is very afraid of heights.

23 Katie ______

Katie is a student of history and needs a rest after her exams. She wants a break from public events and places. She is keen on fashion and wants to get some inspiration on new materials and designs. She enjoys sightseeing but the weather is bad and so she’d like to find something indoors.

25 edith ______

Edith would like to do something that combines her interest in drama and opportunities to be active. She is not interested in visiting any museums but would like to do a variety of things and see different events happening in the city.

21 josé ______

José is coming to the US to study geology at university. Chicago will be his first introduction to the US, and so before his classes start he wants to get an idea of what a large US city looks like. He doesn’t like closed-in places, and prefers to relax and think alone over a cup of coffee.

24 tom ______

Tom is a design student and visited Chicago last year to explore the exhibitions with themes connected with his studies. Now he would like to visit a place that allows him to combine his interest in archaeology with facts about life below the surface of the earth. He would prefer to go somewhere inside and stay in one place.



gCome to the place that sits 1,000 feet above

Chicago’s main shopping street, the Magnificent Mile. Look out over the city as you listen to its high points on a self-guided tour around the top floor with a hand-held MP3 audio guide. Available free of charge in adult or children’s versions, also in German, French, Spanish, Japanese, and Mandarin. Then stop off for a free cup of coffee or free child’s drink at the Hancock Cafe.

AExplore a whole universe deep under the ocean without getting

your feet wet! The largest aquarium in the world offers you the chance to see sea life from the Arctic to the world’s vanishing reefs. The ticket also includes entry to Abbott Aquarium (dolphins, whales, sharks), the Polar Play Zone (try on a penguin suit!) plus a water show. Hurry! The award-winning special exhibition on jellyfish ends on May 28!

BLearn about the history of our planet all in one afternoon at

this world-renowned museum of natural history. Includes Evolving Planet, Inside Ancient Egypt, and Underground Adventure – what would it be like to live under the ground? You can also meet Sue the T. Rex, the largest dinosaur reconstructed from her real bones (not plastic!).

CDrawn by its beauty and the fabulous free public events,

hundreds of thousands of visitors come to the Chicago Cultural Center every year, making it one of the most visited attractions in Chicago. The stunning landmark building is home to two magnificent stained-glass domes, as well as free theater, music, dance, films, lectures and family events.

DDo you think sitting in an auditorium and looking at stars

on the ceiling is boring? We do too! So come visit us instead – the most advanced planetarium on earth. You can see the US space capsules that went to the Moon, try piloting a rocket, experience what life is like on the International Space Station, and try to assemble a 17th-century telescope. Then stop in the gift shop for posters, DVDs, postcards, books, and souvenirs – including a wall-sized photo of the surface of the moon.

eClose your eyes and imagine what more than 5,000 years

of art from around the world might look like. Now see for yourself at the Art Institute! Modern art, photography and sculpture are all here, but also extensive exhibits on design, textiles and clothing. The best examples from around the world and many cultures are all under one roof at the Art Institute.

FEver wondered what it’s like inside a tornado? Or how it feels in an

avalanche? Our exhibits on seven natural phenomena – lightning, fire, tornadoes, avalanches, tsunamis, sunlight, and gravity – recreate the action and explain how it happens. Investigate the basic scientific principles behind nature’s power as you try more than fifty amazing experiments. And if that is not enough, don’t forget to explore the new weather exhibit on the first floor.

H e l p

Z instrukcí se dozvíte, že všech pět osob je v Chicagu na jeden den a mají si vybrat jednu lokalitu / jedno místo, kam se mají ten den podívat. Každá z osob má jiné preference. Budete přiřazovat vždy jednu osobu k jedné lokalitě, to znamená, že se budete muset orientovat ve více krátkých textech a porovnat informace v nich.

Při řešení úloh si podtrhněte / označte důležité informace jak u jednotlivých osob, tak i u lokalit / míst. Rozlišujte důležité od nepodstatného. Např.: u Josého byste si mohli označit text takto:

21 José is coming to the USA to study geology at university. Chicago will be his first introduction to the US, and so before his classes start he

wants to get an idea of what a large US city looks like. He doesn’t like () closed-in places, and prefers () to relax and think alone over a cup of coffee.

Poté, co jste si v textu vyznačili podstatné a důležité, si můžete udělat poznámky formou krátkých bodů, např.:

(-) closed-in places, geology (NE: uzavřené prostory, geologie)

(+) an idea of what a large US city looks like, relaxing activity, cup of coffee / alone (ANO: představu o tom, jak celé město vypadá, nějakou oddechovou / ne aktivní činnost, kafe / přemýšlet o samotě)

Nyní hledejte místo, které bude Josému co nejvíce vyhovovat. Můžete si opět podtrhávat a určitě si nějak vyznačte, která alternativa to být nemůže. Čtěte povrchně, tzn. tak, že každý text pouze přelétnete – hledáte nějakou důležitou informaci, která vám pomůže se rozhodnout, zda tento text vyhovuje nebo nevyhovuje. Např. u lokality A najdete důležitou informaci hned v úvodu textu – .... deep under the ocean... . Rychle přehlédněte zbytek textu. Pokud toto místo nenabízí nic jiného než aktivity spojené s oceánem a životem v něm, pak není tato lokalita pro Josého vhodná.


l o w e r l e V e l / R e A D i n g

part FiveRead the article about the film War Horse. For questions 26–39, choose the correct answer: A, B or c.

war HorseWar Horse, the story of a young English boy and his horse, (26) __________ one of the most popular British plays ever staged. Last year, Stephen Spielberg (27) __________ it into a film. The film has been nominated for an Oscar for Best Picture. However, we will (28) __________ wait until February 2012 to see if the film (29) __________ any of the 2012 Academy Awards.

The film, set in rural* England and Europe (30) __________ the First World War, begins with the remarkable friendship (31) __________ a horse named Joey and a young man called Albert. When his father sells the horse to the army for service in World War I, Albert (32) __________ to join the army and find Joey. The film then follows the extraordinary journey of the horse as it moves through (33) __________ war, changing and inspiring the lives of (34) __________ those it meets.

You will probably be hearing a lot more about the actor (35) __________ plays Albert, Jeremy Irvine (born Jeremy Smith). The role of Albert is not only Irvine’s biggest film role to date – it’s his only role. However, if you like Irvine in War Horse, there (36) __________ some more opportunities to see him in (37) __________ . According to Jeremy Irvine’s Facebook page, he

(38) __________ just finished filming the film Now is Good, which stars Dakota Fanning, and he is now working on (39) __________ adaptation of Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations. In 2013, he will be in a film called The Railway Man, based on a true story from World War II.*rural ["rU@r(@)l] – venkovský

26 A) becomes B) became C) has become

27 A) made B) was made C) has made

28 A) must B) have to C) need

29 A) wins B) will win C) would win

30 A) during B) while C) meanwhile

31 A) among B) from C) between

32 A) decides B) decided C) will decide

33 A) -- B) a C) the

34 A) all B) every C) each

35 A) which B) who C) what

36 A) were B) will be C) would be

37 A) act B) role C) action

38 A) has B) -- C) was

39 A) a B) an C) --

16


sPeAKInG ABoUt ReLAtIonsHIPs / FRIenDsHIP

try to answer the following questions:

• what comes to mind when you hear the word friendship?

• what do you expect from a good friend?

H e l p

Přečtěte si pozorně text v okolí úlohy (před i za úlohou). Pokud má být odpovědí slovesný čas, soustřeďte se na to, zda je v textu uvedeno, kdy se událost stala. Jaké výrazy vám to pomohou zjistit? Neváhejte si je podtrhnout.

Např. v úloze 1 máte dosadit sloveso become. Rozhodujete se mezi přítomným prostým, minulým prostým a předpřítomným časem. Pomohlo by vám podtrhnout si výraz ever? A co v úloze 2? Kterou alternativu vyberete, když se se událost odehrála last year?


17

since september, this pet test has been distributed as a separate handout. This month we bring you part of it in the magazine. You can find the recordings for the listening exercises (as well as other parts of the test) at www.bridge‑online.cz, ‘studenti – testy pet, fce a toefl’ section.

pet test Listening

part 4Questions 20–25Look at the six sentences for this part.

You will hear a conversation between a girl called Julia and her father, about choosing a course at university.

Decide if each sentence is correct or incorrect.

if it is correct, put a tick in the box under A for YeS. if it is not correct, put a tick in the box under B for no.

A B

yes no

20 Julia wants to choose a course as soon as possible.

21 Julia’s father thinks that studying business may be boring.

22 Julia’s father believes Julia’s friend is making the wrong choice.

23 Julia’s father thinks she might find studying business too difficult.

24 Julia is confident about her maths.

25 Julia is keen to consider her father’s suggestion.

Answers:part 3: 14 c/cycling, 15 (a) c/castles (s), 16 (in the) s/spring (time), 17 (£)55, 18 m/music, 19 B/bird(s) watchingpart 4: 20B, 21B, 22a, 23B, 24a, 25a

part 3Questions 14–19You will hear a radio talk about holidays in northumberland.For each question fill in the missing information in the numbered space.

Holidays in NorthumberlandUseful Information

• Read Peter Green’s book called ‘(14) .......................................... around Northumberland’.

• Lots of things to see, for example (15) ............................................. .

• Accommodation in flats, hotels, cottages or bed and breakfast places.

• Best time to go is (16) ......................................... .

Bike Hire

• One week – £35

• Two weeks – (17) £ .......................................

Local Events

• June – Food Festival

• August – International Festival of (18) ...........................................

National Park Activities

• Guided walks

• Photography

• (19) .................................................


l o w e r l e V e l / w r i t i n g18

writing

part oneYou have just returned from a study abroad programme. now you want to write a letter to your host family, mr & mrs peabody. write your letter using 120–150 words. in your letter you should:

• thank them for the stay

• say what you enjoyed most

• mention that you left something behind and say what they should do with that item

• ask if you can return and stay with them next summer


Read the following sample letter written by jiří. There are two versions: the original one (not corrected) and a corrected one. Michael’s comments are below.

Dear Mr and Mrs Peabody,I am writing to thank you for letting me to stay at your house last summer. I am back in Czech Republic now, and I think that my English improved a lot because of staying with you. So I thank you for this too.I enjoyed taking your nice dog Phillip to the park each morning. Also, London is great and beautiful city. I am happy I could spend time there .I think I forgot my Czech‑English dictionary in your house . If you find it you can keep it for now, because I would like to ask that I might come back and visit you next year if is it ok? Also, maybe you want to know some words of Czech language if you want to visit here .Sincerely,Jiři (George) Sedlaček

Dear Mr and Mrs Peabody,

I am writing to thank you for letting me to stay at your house last summer.

I am back in the Czech Republic now, and I think that my English improved a lot because of staying with you. So I thank you for this too.

I enjoyed taking your nice dog Phillip to the park each morning. Also, London is a great and beautiful city. I am happy that I could got to spend time there .

I think I forgot my Czech–English dictionary in your house . If you find it you can keep it for now, because I would like to ask that if I might can/could come back and visit you next year if is it is ok? Also, maybe you will want to know some Czech words of Czech language if you want to visit here .Sincerely,Jiři (George) Sedlaček

corrected version

This is a great letter. There are only a few mistakes and the student managed to complete all the points / tasks. Definitely a high passing mark.

original version


19l o w e r l e V e l / w r i t i n g


A There are five spelling mistakes in the sample answer. Find them and correct them.

B john’s note is too long (about 160 words). Use the existing information in the note, but shorten it to fit the limit (60–70 words). Rewrite the note using 60–70 words.

c now try to write a note of 60–70 words using the map below. There is no bus going to the party so you will have to walk.

part twoyou and your flatmate martha are going to a party at 85 white street. The party starts at 8 pm, but martha has to work until 9 pm and has asked you to leave a note with instructions on how to get to the party from your flat. use the map and write a note to your flatmate using 60–70 words.

sample answer (not corrected)Hi Martha,You can either take a bus or walk to the party. If you want to take the bus, go to the stop at the corner of High and 4th streets. You can take either bus number 1 or 5. If you take number 1, get off at the stop on the corner of Oak and 2nd streets, by the post office. Go straight down 2nd Street, past the post office and turn left on White Street. It is the first door, number 85. If you take bus number 5, you’ll need to get off oposite the library. Than , walk straight for one block to the party, at 85 White Street. If you want to walk, heed straight into the park, towards the lake in the midle . Go around it and use the park exit to Oak Street. Turn right and then left on 3rd St. The first street will be White Street; turn right, the bilding is on the corner, 85 White Street.

See you, John

Vzkaz musí obsahovat všechny klíčové informace, aby se Martha dostala z bodu A do bodu B. Musíte jí nejprve říct, zda má jít pěšky nebo jet autobusem. Martha musí vědět, kde má nastoupit / vystoupit a kudy má jít, tudíž musíte správně použít výrazy pro vystoupit / nastoupit (get off / on), názvy míst (např. corner, street) a samozřejmě výrazy pro vyjádření směru (např. turn left).

Po napsání vzkazu si projděte vámi napsaný text s mapkou. Sledujte na mapce trasu, kterou jste popsali. Dojdete z bodu A do bodu B? Na nic jste nezapomněli?

H e l p

Solution to task a on p. 3


l o w e r l e V e l / s p e a K i n g 20

part one education 2.5 mins.

StuDent’S taSk SHeet

interLoCutor‘S taSk SHeet

The examiner is going to ask you some questions about education. please answer the questions in as much detail as possible. if you don’t understand a question, please ask the examiner to repeat it.

I am going to ask you some questions about education. Please give detailed answers. If you don’t understand the question, please ask me to repeat it. Are you ready?

1 is your classroom a nice place to study? why? / why not?

2 How important is it for you to learn foreign languages? why?

3 Do you think school uniforms are a good idea? why? why not?

4 Did you enjoy (going to) primary school? why? / why not?

5 Are you planning to study at university? why / why not?

6 why do you think that some children / teenagers don’t like school?


Read the following authentic answers (A–e) to five questions about education. try to match the answers A–e with five of the questions (1–6). Which question was the student not asked?

student:

A) “I learn it because when I go to abroad then when someone speak, for example, little English or Spanish and I don’t know Spanish then I can speak with them so English or German.”

B) “Hmm... I think the methods are for some... some students so boring or the teachers are boring and they had... they have no interest in maths. Or when they like Czech or literature then they don’t like maths or science.”

C) “Yes, I enjoyed it because our teacher was a good woman and I was in some... in some... some... sometimes when we were better in math or Czech and she made for us extra homeworks and so.”

D) “So, I don’t think so. It is not a good place to study or nice place because there are no pictures and there are too old chairs and tables.”

e) “Yeah, I am planning because for job which I like to do I need it so for medicine I need it.”

• Did the student give a short or detailed answer? (Mark or )

• was there anything that made the understanding of the answers difficult? (Underline)

• Are the answers grammatically correct? if not, can you correct or improve the answers?

• Did the student use appropriate / correct vocabulary? if not, can you correct or improve the answers?

• try to give your own answers to questions 1–6.

note: The answers are a transcript of a student’s authentic answers. no mistakes were corrected.

Přestože neznáte otázky předem, snažte se na potítku vybavit si slovní zásobu k tématu.

Vaším úkolem je poskytnout hodnotitelům dostatek jazyka k hodnocení. Vyvarujte se proto velmi krátkých odpovědí. Všimněte si, že za většinou otázek následuje doplňující otázka Why? Why not? nebo pokyn Tell me (something) about it.

Otázky jsou řazeny od konkrétních / osobních po obecné a obsahují rozmanité gramatické struktury (např.: Do you like... ?; What did you change... ? Would you prefer... ?) i různé okruhy slovní zásoby (např.: room, house / apartment, city / countryside, pets).

Nerozumíte-li otázce, požádejte o zopakování, např.: Could you repeat the question, please?

H e l p

speaking

note: The examiner is going to ask you 3–5 questions from the six questions above.


21l o w e r l e V e l / s p e a K i n g

Při popisování i porovnávání postupujte vždy od obecného ke konkrétnímu a od důležitého k méně důležitému – podívejte se nejprve na fotografii jako celek (Kde a kdy byla fotografie pořízena? Kdo jsou lidé na fotografii /-ích?).

Využijte bezezbytku čas na potítku. Nejprve aktivujte již osvojenou slovní zásobu. Využijte nějaký grafický organizér, např. mentální mapu. Ukazujte si objekty / činnosti na fotografii – umíte je anglicky pojmenovat? Neznáte-li výraz pro nějaký důležitý objekt nebo činnost, použijte slovník. Se slovníkem pracujte obezřetně.

Využijte body osnovy – i když nejsou povinné, pomohou vám vhodně

zorganizovat promluvu. Vyvarujete se tak nahodilému přeskakování od jedné oblasti k druhé. Na potítku si k bodům osnovy udělejte poznámky a v duchu / písemně zformulujte věty.

Nezapomeňte na vazbu There is / There are, např. There is a textbook on the table. (2A) In the background there is a door. (2B) Ukažte, že umíte používat ve větě přítomný čas průběhový a vhodné výrazy pro vyjádření polohy / umístění věcí / osob, např. The man / teacher in front of the class is asking something. (2B)

Pokud si nejte něčím jisti, začněte např.: In my opinion, …; For me, …; I think (that)...

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part two education 4 mins.

Part two consists of three tasks.

task one (1.5 mins.)Look at pictures 2A and 2B. The pictures show two different classrooms. choose one of the pictures and describe it. The following ideas may help you:

• who? • what? • where?• when? • why?

task two (1 min.)Look at both pictures once more and compare them.

task Three (1.5 mins.)talk about your school. The following ideas may help you:

• type of school / Branch of stuDy

• LoCAtion

• the BuilDing from outsiDe

• FACiLitieS

• suBjects

• otHeR


DescRIBInG A PHoto / A scene

A Define positions of objects and people in photos / your classroom. The following expressions may help you describe where objects and people are located and where actions are taking place. Think of other expressions.

• in the background / foreground

• Down here / up here

• on the left / right

• in the middle

• Down / up in the right‑hand / left-hand corner

B You can easily imagine your classroom. Describe it using the ideas in task one.

who? what? where?when? why?

2a

2B



part tHree great Britain 5 mins.

Part Three consists of two tasks.

task one (3 mins.)in this task you should speak on your own about the capital city of the United Kingdom – London. use a map to illustrate your speech. The following ideas may help you:

• LoCAtion

• important institutions

• means of transport

• places of interest / tourist attractions

• you anD lonDon

• otHeR


AnsWeRInG qUestIons ABoUt LonDon

After finishing your speech, the interlocutor may ask you some additional questions. try to answer all the following questions.

• How can a person get to London from the Czech Republic?

• what do you know about the city’s transport? / how can a tourist get around London?

• what do you know about Buckingham palace / the globe Theatre... ? where is it?

• Can you tell me something about the parks in London?

• have you ever been to london? when? which places did you visit? / if you went to London, which places would you like to visit? why?

• which important sporting event is taking place in london this summer? Can you tell me something about the event?

task two (2 mins.)now look at pictures 3A–3D. You will be asked to speak on your own about the places / monuments / sights in the pictures. use the following points:

Name locatioN Facts about tHe place

Nezapomeňte, že součástí hodnocení je i dovednost použít správně specifickou slovní zásobu, tj. např. místopis a názvy objektů.

Využijte bezezbytku čas na potítku. Body osnovy si můžete označit čísly v pořadí, jak o nich budete hovořit. Zvažte, zda není vhodné nejprve hovořit o městě obecně (např. capital city, financial / cultural centre) a určit jeho polohu. Vhodná organizace promluvy je důležitá!

Postupujte od jednoho bodu osnovy k druhému. Zkuste si na potítku napsat stručné poznámky k jednotlivým bodům osnovy a pak v duchu / písemně zformulovat věty.

Využijte mapu pro aktivaci slovní zásoby i organizaci promluvy – ukazujte si jednotlivá místa na mapě a v duchu / potichu si říkejte jejich názvy. Při práci s mapou postupujte promyšleně, neskákejte nahodile od jedné památky k druhé. Můžete si například vymyslet turistickou trasu po nejatraktivnějších památkách a postupovat po ní.

H e l p

3a

3B

3D

3C



part Four personal relationships 3 mins.


Use pictures 4A–4e to discuss the following situation with your classmate:

Your friend has asked you to think of a place to take a group of five english‑speaking students tomorrow afternoon and in the evening. He/She wants you to discuss where to take the students. You should agree on one place to go in the afternoon and one place to go in the evening. Decide on who will start the dialogue.

Přečtěte si pozorně instrukce – chcete se sejít, abyste si popovídali! Musíte se také dohodnout, kdy se sejdete. V tomto úkolu musíte využít obrázky 4a–4E! Můžete však také navrhnout další alternativu (“Other?”).

Využijte čas na potítku efektivně. Nejprve si řekněte / napište u každého obrázku název místa (např. cinema). Pak si ke každému obrázku napište v bodech / promyslete argumenty pro a proti, např.:

gotothe cinema: J see a film / near your house; L not be able to talk

gotothe park/fora walk: J quiet / relaxing if the weather is good / sit outside; L too hot / insects / only if the weather is good / not near the house

gotoa danceparty: J fun / music / refreshments / friends; L too noisy / too many people

stayathome: J chance to chat / have something to eat and drink / cheap; L would have to clean up

go bowling: J fun / refreshments / good at it; L expensive / too noisy

Nyní si ujasněte, kde by bylo nejvhodnější se s kamarádem / kamarádkou sejít. Napadá vás jiné vhodné místo, kde byste se mohli sejít?

Nezapomeňte, že dobré hodnocení získáte jedině tehdy, budete-li aktivní.

Navrhujte, např.:

How about going to… ?

Shall we go to… or … ?

Let’s go to…

If the weather is nice, we could go to…

I think it would be good / best if we went to… / to go…

Zdůvodňujte své návrhy a uvádějte důvody pro / proti, např.:

Let’s go to the park because it is quiet there. We can…

I think it is too noisy there.

Reagujte na návrhy partnera, např.:

I’d rather go to… because…

I prefer… It is…

I don’t think it is a good idea because we wouldn’t be able to talk there.

It would / wouldn’t be a good idea because…

Nezapomeňte, že se musíte na jednom místě dohodnout. Pokuste se na konci rozhovoru shrnout, na čem jste se dohodli, např.:

OK / Great. So we will meet on Saturday at 2 pm at the National Museum and we will go to the park.

H e l p

in Part Four of the exam, you and the examiner are going to talk together. imagine the following situation:

you and your english‑speaking friend haven’t seen each other for some time. You want to see each other this weekend. You also want to have a chance to talk together. You should talk together about what you could do and decide where the most suitable place to go would be and when to meet (day, time). The examiner is going to play the role of your friend and will start the conversation.

use the following pictures:

oTHEr?

4a

4D

4B

4e

4C


H i g H e r l e V e l / L i S t e n i n g24

listening

part oneYou will hear people talking in five different situations. For questions 1–5, choose the correct answer: A, B, c or D.

Měli byste využít každé vteřiny před poslechem nahrávky, během něj a po něm. Musíte se naučit rychle zorientovat v textu (otázka, alternativy) a pracovat efektivně. V pauze před nahrávkou si pozorně přečtěte otázku i alternativy a zamyslete se nad tím, proč máte nahrávku poslouchat. Máte pochopit názor mluvčího (opinion), nebo důvod něčeho (reason / why)? Máte postihnout hlavní body v nahrávce (main points), nebo se soustředit na postihnutí nějaké (detailní) informace?

Podtrhejte si klíčová slova. Dáváte tak svému mozku důležité podněty. Přemýšlejte přitom, na

co byste se v nahrávce měli soustředit. V úloze 1 to bude místo znečištění (Where does the pollution come from? A) village, B) factory, C) dairy farm, D) power plant). V nahrávce uslyšíte všechna místa (hlavní body), musíte tedy postihnout, které místo je to správné, a vyloučit ta ostatní.

U delších otázek a alternativ je vytvoření systému pro rychlou orientaci v textu nebo podtrhávání klíčových výrazů velmi důležité. Z otázky5např. zjistíte, že půjde o rozhovor mezi mužem a ženou. Vás ale zajímá, jaký názor má muž. Podtrhněte si tedy slovo ‘man’. Co znamená v otázce ‘this

issue’? Podtrhněte si tedy část věty ‘the influence of television (on teenagers)’. Klíčová slova v alternativě A pak mohou být např.: A) violence, change, values.

Během poslechu nahrávky nebo bezprostředně po něm si označte odpověď, která je podle vašeho názoru správná. Při druhém poslechu se soustřeďte i na to, že můžete zbývající odpovědi s jistotou vyloučit. Můžete si vymyslet jednotný systémznaček,např.(?)nebo(•)kdesinejstejistí.

H e l p

1 you will hear a reporter talking about a polluted river. According to the reporter, where does the pollution come from?

A) from the village

B) from the factory

C) from the dairy farm

D) from the power plant

2 you will hear a chef being interviewed on the radio. Why did he decide to become a chef?

A) to follow a family tradition

B) to develop his natural talent

C) to become a television cooking-show star

D) to earn money to support his family

3 you will hear a speaker talking about social media (Facebook, twitter, etc.). What is the speaker’s opinion about social media?

A) it leads to poor writing skills.

B) it isn’t taken very seriously.

C) it helps speed up political change.

D) it helps parents communicate with their children.

4 you will hear a woman speaking on the radio about lying. According to the speaker, what do people do when they are lying?

A) They look away to the left.

B) They act differently from normal.

C) They are afraid to look right into your eyes.

D) They try to make you talk about something else.

5 you will hear a man and a woman talking about the influence of television on teenagers. What is the man’s opinion on this issue?

A) images of violence on television change the values of viewers.

B) The negative influence of television on young people is exaggerated.

C) television has more influence on teenagers than any other media.

D) television is important for the social development of teenagers.


GIVInG yoUR oPInIon

Read questions 3 and 5 and try to give your opinion on the issues.

What is your opinion on social media?

What is your opinion on the influence of tV on teenagers / children / people?


H i g H e r l e V e l / L i S t e n i n g 25

part two You will hear a man and a woman talking in a library about mobile phones and e‑books. For questions 6–15, decide which of the statements are true (t) and which are false (F).

Využijte čas před prvním vyslechnutím nahrávky efektivně. Přemýšlejte u každého tvrzení, na co se budete muset v nahrávce soustředit. Klíčové výrazy si neváhejte podtrhnout. Například v úloze 6 potřebujete z nahrávky zjistit, zda jel Petr na Tchaj-wan (Taiwan) nebo někam jinam a zda to bylo na měsíc nebo na jinou dobu (Peter went to Taiwan for a month.).

Zkuste si podtrhnout klíčové výrazy v úlohách6–15.

Úlohy dichotomické (True / False) jsou uspořádány tak, aby co možná nejlépe kopírovaly sled informací v nahrávce. Během poslechu tedy postupujte od jedné úlohy k druhé. Pokud jste si odpovědí jisti, označte ji nějakou značkou. Pokud si nejste zcela jisti, udělejte si nějaké znaménko,např.(?)nebo(•).Běhemdruhého poslechu se soustřeďte na tyto úlohy (a samozřejmě na úlohy, kde jste odpověď nezachytili vůbec).

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t F

6 peter went to taiwan for a month.

7 Jill has failed her final exams.

8 Jill’s roommate distracts her from studying.

9 Jill was annoyed by somebody’s behaviour in the study room.

10 peter thinks that those who display their mobile phones do it to show they are rich.

11 jill has met peter’s wife before.

12 peter complains that his wife keeps buying too many books.

13 Jill says using e-books is economical for her.

14 Jill has stopped buying traditional printed books.

15 peter prefers printed books to e‑books.


coMPARInG tHInGs / exPRessInG PReFeRences

A) compare traditional paper books and e‑books. Give advantages and disadvantages of both. consider:

• costs

• comfort

• accessibility

• environmental impact

you can use a venn diagram to make notes.

B) What are your preferences? Why? ideas and useful phrases:

• i prefer traditional paper books to / over e-books because…

• e-books are much / far better than traditional paper books because…

• with e‑books you don’t get the… that you get with traditional paper books.

A

BOTH A + B

B

VENN DIAGRAM


H i g H e r l e V e l / L i S t e n i n g26

part tHreeYou will hear part of a job interview with miss white, who is seeking a human resources position. For questions 16–21, choose the best answer: A, B or c.

16 How does Miss White feel about her former job as a hotel housekeeper?

A) She feels it was a step back in her career.

B) She regrets that she had to take such a low-level job.

C) She is glad that it made her think about her future.

17 Why did Miss White find her hotel job demoralizing?

A) Because she had to clean up after children.

B) Because the people she met were never pleasant.

C) Because she had no opportunity to come into contact with guests.

18 Why does Miss White think it takes a lot of patience to clean a room?

A) Because some guests don’t want to have their bed sheets changed.

B) Because you must keep working even if a guest is in the room.

C) Because guests want to watch television while you are cleaning.

19 What does Miss White say about the tricks she used in her work?

A) She defines them as ways to work more efficiently.

B) She complains that her company required her to use tricks.

C) She says that using tricks at work will not help you save time.

20 What does Miss White say about salaries for employees? She thinks

A) people always need more than a basic wage.

B) financial rewards would motivate employees.

C) increasing wages motivates people to work harder.

21 What did Miss White’s colleague do the day after she earned a $100 tip?

A) She returned to her old working habits.

B) She worked harder than ever before.

C) She did her job carelessly.

Otázky jsou řazeny tak, jak jsou informace k úlohám řazeny v interview. Otázky kladené v interview kopírují pořadí otázek tištěných, nemusí však mít zcela identické znění.

Před vyslechnutím první nahrávky si opět pozorně přečtěte otázky i alternativy a podtrhejte si klíčová slova. Tentokrát otázky neuslyšíte předem nebo během nahrávky, musíte tedy během interview postupovat od úlohy k úloze. Pokud nezachytíte odpověď, přesuňte se k další úloze. Již během poslechu si označte odpověď, která je podle vašeho názoru správná. Pokud si nejste jisti, udělejte si k úloze nějakou značku. Pokud jste správnou odpověď nezachytili, možná můžete s jistotou vyloučit alespoň některou z alternativ. Označte si ji křížkem a během druhého poslechu se pak soustřeďte na ostatní alternativy. S ohledem na omezený čas musíte pracovat efektivně.

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H i g H e r l e V e l / L i S t e n i n g 27

V této části uslyšíte pět krátkých úryvků, monologů, a budete přiřazovat altrnativy A–G k jednotlivým osobám (pilotům). Dvě z těchto sedmi alternativ jsou zde navíc a nebudou přiřazeny k žádnému z mluvčích.

Čas před vyslechnutím nahrávky využijte k pečlivému pročtení alternativ. Přemýšlejte, o čem by lidé ‘za otázkami’ mohli mluvit. Například u alternativy A by pilot mluvil o něčem, co způsobuje havárii letadla – podtrhněte si v otázce tedy slova cause a crash.

Nahrávka bude zopakována, až domluví poslední z pilotů, proto řešte úlohy již během poslechu. Pište si k alternativám čísla osob. Může se vám stát, že si zapíšete čísla dvou osob k jedné alternativě. Nevadí, během druhého poslechu se budete rozhodovat mezi dvěma osobami, což je lepší než rozhodovat se mezi pěti.

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part FourYou will hear five pilots talking about their profession. For questions 22–26, choose from the list A–G what each pilot says. There are two extra answers that you will not use.

Which speaker

A) talks about things that cause a plane crash?

B) talks about why passengers have to follow certain safety rules?

C) talks about the employment opportunities for pilots?

D) talks about the information pilots give passengers during the flight?

e) talks about the difficulties of landing a plane?

F) talks about something pilots try to do to ensure passengers’ comfort?

g) complains about how some people react when seeing him/her?

22 speaker one 23 speaker two 24 speaker Three 25 speaker Four 26 speaker Five


sPeAKInG ABoUt A joB / coMPARInG tWo joBs

Would you like to be a pilot? What are the pros and cons / advantages and disadvantages of this job?

A compare and contrast the job of a pilot with the job of a teacher. ideas for answers:

• Both pilots and teachers must deal with a lot of stress.

• teachers and pilots both have big responsibilities.

• pilots are paid much better than teachers.

• teachers deal mostly with young people, whereas pilots meet people of all ages.

• pilots get to travel around the world, but teachers usually stay in one place.

B now try to do the same with these jobs.

c you can express similarities / differences in many ways. tick ()the expressions / grammatical structures you would use to express similarities. can you use at least five of the expressions below in your speech?

but

on the other hand

whereas

different/-ce

both

the same

similar/-ly

also

as well

however

on the contrary

yet

in contrast

adj+-er/-est

like

just as

while

Solution to task C on p. 3

Doctor Farmerbus DriVer reporter

Doctor Farmerbus DriVer reporter


H i g H e r l e V e l / R e A D i n g28

part oneRead the following five short texts. For questions 1–5, choose the best answer: A, B, c or D.

1 What is said about pandas in the news item?

A) They actually prefer to eat meat, if they can get it.

B) They eat only a small percentage of each bamboo plant.

C) They are moving into the mountains to escape from people.

D) They can eat meat, but have special bacteria to digest plants.

For a long time, scientists have wondered why pandas – which have stomachs designed for meat – can eat parts of the bamboo plant and survive. Now they’ve discovered that panda intestines contain 13 kinds of bacteria that help them digest plants. Even so, their bodies can use just 17 percent of the 9 to 14 kilograms of dry food they eat each day. It seems that as the ancient human population increased, pandas were pushed into higher altitudes. The animals then adopted a bamboo diet so they wouldn’t compete for prey with other meat-eaters, such as Asiatic black bears, in their new homes. However, even today pandas will eat meat if it’s offered to them, but they won’t actively hunt for it.

2 What does the poet want to say about the old man?

A) The old man wants to be a young boy again.

B) The old man is not paying attention to the boy.

C) The old man and the boy share the same experience.

D) The old man doesn’t understand the boy’s problems.

The Little Boy and the Old Manby Shel Silverstein

Said the little boy, “Sometimes I drop my spoon.”

Said the old man, “I do that too.”

The little boy whispered, “I wet my pants.”

“I do that too,” laughed the little old man.

Said the little boy, “I often cry.”

The old man nodded, “So do I.”

“But worst of all,” said the boy, “it seems

Grown-ups don’t pay attention to me.”

And he felt the warmth of a wrinkled old hand.

“I know what you mean,” said the little old man.

Než začnete řešit úlohy zaměřené na čtení s porozuměním, měli byste si kromě testových strategií řešení úloh (podtrhávání klíčových informací, dělání vhodných značek u úloh / alternativ apod.) procvičovat i různé způsoby čtení. Ty vám pomohou vyřešit všechny úlohy v časovém limitu a pracovat efektivně, tzn. vynaložit na čtení jen takové úsilí, které je nutné k vyřešení úloh. Pokud jste zvyklí číst vše detailně, popř. překládat, nezvládnete test časově

(nehledě na únavu, která se brzy dostaví). Jde o to uvědomit si, proč čtete (co se po vás v úloze chce). Máte pochopit hlavní myšlenku? Nebo jde o to vyhledat pouze určitou informaci, případně si detailně přečíst část vztahující se k této informaci?

Naučte se číst různými způsoby. Přizpůsobte způsob čtení textu důvodu vašeho čtení. Odvozujte význam neznámých slov a rozlišujte

podstatné od nepodstatného. Seznamte se s technikou rychlého čtení (skimming) – text rychle / zběžně pročtěte např. pro pochopení hlavní myšlenky, získání představy, o čem daný text je. Důležitou technikou je i technika pročtení textu (scanning) – vaším úkolem je najít v textu konkrétní informace. Jakmile najdete to, co potřebujete, můžete si pak podle potřeby přečíst pro detailní porozumění jen pasáž vztahující se k nalezené informaci.

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reading


H i g H e r l e V e l / R e A D i n g 29

3 What does the author of the text think about the dads’ race? The author

A) dislikes the race.

B) thinks the race is too easy.

C) thinks the race is dangerous.

D) enjoys taking part in the race.

Last week I received a letter from my son’s school that no father wants to get. No, he wasn’t injured, he wasn’t in trouble either. The letter was sent to inform me of his upcoming end of term sports day and guess what? There was a dads’ race! And it’s not just a simple foot race from point A to point B, oh no, that would be far too easy, wouldn’t it?

So the time had arrived for our annual humiliation. There we were, around twenty of us, standing in the school playing field in our shorts and t-shirts looking like a bunch of confused, pot-bellied half-wits. I’m positive this indignity is the teachers’ way of gaining their revenge on us for what they’ve had to endure from our kids all year.

Andrew, UK

4 What is the main idea of this news item? Kathy witterick and David stocker

A) will show their baby only to close family members.

B) will raise their baby as neither a boy nor a girl.

C) want the gender of their child to be changed.

D) decided to keep the birth of their child a secret.

When couples have a baby, they often send out an email to family and friends that fills them in on the key details, such as name, gender and birth weight. But the email sent recently by Kathy Witterick and David Stocker of Toronto, Canada, to announce the birth of their baby, Storm, was missing one important piece of information.

The Canadian couple have decided to keep the gender of their newborn baby a secret in order to raise what they call a ‘genderless’ child. Storm will choose a sex when he or she grows up. The parents have only revealed Storm’s gender to close members of the family, including their two sons. The couple said they have received a flood of comments. Friends expressed their fears that Storm’s genderless nature would make the child vulnerable to bullying in the future. Another fear was that they thought the couple were actually taking away the newborn’s right to choice. Despite these unsupportive comments, the parents feel strongly about releasing their child from the constraints that society poses on males and females and want it to make its own decisions about how it acts and looks.

5 What is said in this news item about Garcia?

A) garcia’s face was known to detectives.

B) garcia was linked to the murder by his tattoo.

C) garcia used a helicopter to commit a crime.

D) The victim had garcia’s portrait tattooed on his chest.

In January 2004, 23-year-old John Juarez was shot dead outside a liquor store in a Los Angeles suburb. The murderer managed to escape. Anthony Garcia, 25, was first suspected in the killing of Juarez after he was arrested in 2008 for driving on a suspended licence because a detective noticed his tattoo, which showed a peanut man being shot by a helicopter outside a store. Prosecutors said the helicopter represented Garcia, whose gang nickname was “Chopper”, and that “peanut” was a derogatory* term for a rival gang. Garcia, who was stupid enough to memorialize the crime scene on his chest, was sentenced to 65 years in prison.*derogatory – hanlivý



part twoRead the article about a dog which became the Hoover Dam mascot. seven sentences have been removed from the article. For questions 6–12, choose from the sentences A–I the one that fits each gap. There are two extra sentences that you will not use.

dog on a catwalkThe Hoover Dam, built between 1931 and 1935, was and continues to be the premier engineering marvel of the Southwest. During the height of the Great Depression, thousands of people worked around the clock to bring the project to completion almost two years ahead of schedule. (6) __________________________

However, there was one unique “worker” who did his job and received no money. His duty was to make the days of the workers more enjoyable. He had no assigned housing, and no set time schedule. (7) __________________________ He was a little black dog who took his job of being the project mascot very seriously.

On the canyon wall, just across from the escalator leading to the new Tour Center at Hoover Dam, is a plaque dedicated to this dog. Puzzled visitors often ask the guides and guards why the plaque is there. (8) __________________________

The Hoover Dam’s mascot was born under one of the newly constructed dam offices in Boulder City. The dog’s rough black puppy fur did not smooth out entirely as he matured and he never quite grew into his oversized paws. (9) __________________________ Gradually, the pup became a favorite of many of the men working at the dam who were far from their homes and friends.

When the dog first saw the dam, he knew that that was where he belonged. (10) __________________________ He belonged to the dam and everyone connected with it, and they all belonged to him. Down on the dam he’d come up to you and want you to pet* him and off he’d go – on to the next worker.

(11) __________________________ Before long he could be seen riding the large employee transports, the government buses, the trains that delivered materials to the site, and even the skips up the front of the dam. If he decided to work overtime at his favorite job of chasing the ring-tailed cats that infested the tunnels, he hitched a ride back to town in the first Bureau of Reclamation or Six Companies car, truck or transport that happened along. No one ever remembers him accepting a ride from anyone not connected with the dam. (12) __________________________

During construction, and for years thereafter, this dog worked at and protected the dam. A plaque above his grave today states, “On February 21, 1941, the life of this devoted animal came to an end when a truck under which he was sleeping rolled over him. The grave below was completed by workers later that same day.”

* to pet – pohladit

A) They all regreted this decision.

B) The dog not only loved the dam, he also discovered that he loved to ride on things.

C) They came from all over the country looking for the opportunity of a steady paycheck.

D) it became the only life he ever knew or wanted.

e) it could have been these odd characteristics that helped to endear him to the workers.

F) He came and went as he pleased.

g) Their answers help keep alive the saga of the first and only Hoover Dam mascot.

H) That was not their first attempt to tame the dog.

i) How he could differentiate between dam workers and casual visitors no one could figure out.


31H i g H e r l e V e l / R e A D i n g

The new Mike o’Callaghan-Pat tillman Memorial Bridge spans the Colorado river below the Hoover Dam on Highway u.S. 93. The bridge is america’s newest wonder. it is a great tourist attraction, while also providing a quicker, safer drive between Phoenix and Las Vegas.


ReADInG FoR DetAIL / MAIn IDeAtwo sentences have been removed from the text. can you match the sentences with the correct gaps in the text? There is one sentence you will not use.

The plaque above the Hoover dam mascot’s graveOne thing that cannot be found at this memorial is the name of the Hoover Dam mascot. It cannot be found at the gravesite, or in the museum display commemorating the dog’s life. (1) _________________ It appears this wonderful companion to the masses had a name that is not “politically correct”. This dog, a friend to all workers, was named “Little Nig”. For years, the original plaque over his grave displayed his name. (2) _________________ He made it his mission to have the name removed from the plaque.

A) however, in the late 1970s, a tourist read the plaque during a visit, found it offensive, and considered the name a racial slur.

B) However, his name is written on the plaque above his grave.

C) However, it can be found in a book entitled Building Hoover Dam: An Oral History of the Great Depression, and on the internet.

solution on page 3

Budete číst text, z něhož byly vyňaty věty. Nejprve je důležité pochopit, o co v textu jde, proto si jej pročtěte. Teprve pak řešte úlohy. Hledejte souvislosti obsahové, časové, logické i referenční. Hledejte referenční výrazy, které odkazují k předchozímu nebo následujícímu textu, např. slova jako ‘it’, ‘this’ nebo časová určení. Řešení tohoto typu úloh není snadné, a je proto potřeba si na text ponechat dostatek času. Po dosazení všech vět si celý text přečtěte znovu! Dává text ve všech částech smysl?

H e l p



part ThreeRead the article about Hiroo onoda, a famous Japanese soldier. For questions 13–20, choose the best answer: A, B, c or D.

tHe soldier wHo wouldn’t Quit

1Hiroo Onoda was 20 years old in August 1942 when he received a letter from the authorities

ordering him to join the army. At that time he was far from home, working at a branch of the Tajima Yoko trading company in Hankow (now Wuhan) in China. Onoda quit his job immediately and returned to his home in Wakayama, Japan. In the army, Onoda was chosen to be trained at an Imperial Army military intelligence school. At this school, he was taught how to gather intelligence and how to conduct guerrilla warfare*.

2 In December 1944, the Japanese army sent Lieutenant Hiroo Onoda to the small island of

Lubang, part of the Philippine Islands. His orders were to lead the Lubang Garrison* in a series of guerrilla attacks. As Onoda and his comrades were getting ready to leave for their mission, the division commander gave Onoda his last orders, “You are absolutely forbidden to die by your own hand. It may take three years, it may take five, but whatever happens, we’ll come back for you. Until then, so long as you have one soldier, you are to continue to lead him. ...”

3 In February 1945, the Allied forces attacked the island. As the Allies moved inland, Lt. Onoda and

the other guerrilla soldiers split into groups and retreated into the dense jungle. Onoda’s group consisted of himself and three other men. The men lived in the jungle for years, occasionally engaging in small battles with people and carrying out acts of sabotage as part of their guerrilla activities. They were tormented by jungle heat, constant rain, rats, insects, and the occasional armed search party. Any villagers they sighted were seen as spies, and attacked by the four men. Over the years a number of people were wounded or killed by the soldiers.

4When the war was over, the outside world tried to contact the survivors on the island by dropping leaflets out of

a plane. Onoda first read a leaflet that claimed the war was over in October 1945. But the leaflet just didn’t seem to make sense to him, because somebody had fired at them a few days before. If the war was over, why would they still be under attack? The soldiers decided the leaflet must be a clever ruse by the Allied propagandists. Leaflet after leaflet was dropped. Photographs and letters from relatives were dropped. Despite this, Onoda remained suspicious.

5Two decades later Lt. Onoda was the last of his unit. One of his fellow soldiers had surrendered, simply sneaking away

without a word to the others in 1949. The other two were killed

in shootouts with locals, one in 1953 and the other in 1972. News of that soldier’s death travelled quickly to Japan, so authorities thought Lt. Onoda might still be alive. Even though he had been declared legally dead 13 years earlier, search parties were sent in to find him. However, he successfully evaded them for two years. Finally, in February 1974 a Japanese college student named Norio Suzuki managed to find him. He tried to convince Lt. Onoda that the war had ended long ago. But the lieutenant explained that he would not surrender unless his commander ordered him to do so. Suzuki convinced Lt. Onoda to meet him again in a prearranged location.

6The lieutenant arrived at the meeting place in what was left of his dress uniform, wearing his sword, and carrying his

still-working rifle, 500 rounds of ammunition, and several hand grenades. Major Taniguchi, his commander who had long since retired from the military and become a bookseller, told him that Japan had lost the war, and all combat* activity was to cease immediately. After a moment of quiet anger, Lt Onoda unloaded his rifle, took off his pack, and laid the rifle across it. When the reality of it sunk in, he openly wept.

* guerrilla warfare – partyzánský způsob boje / války; garrison – posádka; combat – bojové; to surrender – vzdát se / složit zbraně



13 What is the main idea of this article?

A) even though Hiroo onoda and the soldiers got lost, they kept fighting.

B) Hiroo onoda learned to survive in the jungle without anybody’s help.

C) Hiroo onoda was determined to follow orders, no matter what.

D) Hiroo onoda could survive only with the help of local people.

14 What happened to Hiroo onoda in August 1942?

A) He received an offer to work for a trading company in China.

B) He was given a choice to join the army or work in China.

C) He was called for duty in the military.

D) He lost his job in a trading company.

15 What order did Hiroo onoda get from the division commander?

A) not to return home without his fellow soldiers.

B) to come back to Japan after the war was over.

C) to kill his last soldier if necessary.

D) not to give up his life voluntarily.

16 Why did Hiroo onoda and three soldiers get separated from the others?

A) They were attacked and captured by the Allies.

B) The got lost when they went to look for food.

C) They planned to hide and then attack the Allies.

D) They wanted to run away from all the fighting.

17 According to paragraph 3, which of the following was not true about Hiroo onoda?

A) He had to survive rain, rats, and insects.

B) He was seriously wounded in an attack.

C) He thought the people he saw were spies.

D) Sometimes he killed or wounded local people.

18 What is clear about Hiroo onoda and his soldiers from paragraph 4?

onoda and his soldiers

A) believed what was written in the leaflets dropped from planes.

B) thought the Allies dropped leaflets from planes to play tricks on them.

C) didn’t get truthful information about the end of war from the leaflets.

D) didn’t understand the language the leaflets and letters were written in.

19 What is said in paragraph 5?

The Japanese authorities sent search parties to find onoda

A) when they got news about him from one of his fellow soldiers.

B) because norio Suzuki managed to track him down.

C) after the death of his last fellow soldier.

D) because they knew he was still alive.

20 What do we learn about Hiroo onoda from the last paragraph?

A) He didn’t believe Major taniguchi.

B) He tried to shoot himself.

C) He refused to surrender*.

D) He surrendered.

Úlohy jsou řazeny tak, aby odpovídaly sledu informací v textu. Úloha, kde se ptáme na hlavní myšlenku celého textu, je však umístěna na samém začátku – potřebujete přečíst celý text, abyste ji vyřešili.

Přečtěte si znovu informace o strategiích čtení na straně 28. Čeká vás dlouhý text a úlohy, které

vyžadují různé dovednosti. Přemýšlejte, jakou techniku čtení tedy využijete pro tu kterou úlohu.

Například v úloze 13 se ptáme na hlavní myšlenku. Jakou techniku zvolíte – skimming, nebo scanning?

V úloze 14 máte naopak vyhledat konkrétní informace vztahující se k srpnu 1942. Jakou

techniku použijete? Až informaci o srpnu 1942 v textu najdete, detailně si přečtěte pouze tu část textu, která se k datu vztahuje. Čtěte efektivně.

Nezapomeňte si podtrhávat klíčové informace a dělat značky, např. u alternativ, kde víte s jistotou, že nejsou správným řešením úlohy.

H e l p


34 H i g H e r l e V e l / R e A D i n g

part FourRead part of an article written by a British indian novelist and essayist about places that mean a lot to him. For questions 21–31, choose from paragraphs A–e. Some of the paragraphs may be chosen more than once. For each question, choose one paragraph only. There is an example (0) at the beginning.

example:Which of the paragraphs gives information about: 0 the history of a city? paragraph a

In which of the paragraphs does the author of the article give information about: Paragraph21 a situation when his life was in danger? ________22 his feelings that were the same as his children’s? ________23 an event that is funny now but was not so funny when it happened? ________24 a reward he gives himself after he has finished writing a book? ________25 a wrong idea he had when he was a child? ________26 a part of nature which he talks about as if it were a person? ________27 how the world has changed since he was young? ________28 how he felt when seeing the original of something? ________

In which of the paragraphs does the author of the article:29 compare two cities? ________

Which paragraphs give information about:30 how the local people behaved to the author? C and ________31 going to a place with another person / other people? e and ________

paragraph aI still refuse to call it “Mumbai”, as do many people who live in Bombay. It’s not ancient like Delhi, with thousands of years of history. Essentially, it’s a city the British built because they thought the natural harbour would be useful to the Navy. They reclaimed land to join together seven islands into what is now the peninsula of south Bombay. Then they built a fort and the city grew around it. One of the places I like best in Bombay is Marine Drive. Along with South Beach Miami, it is the longest stretch of Art Deco architecture in the world. When I was growing up I thought that Art Deco was a local Indian style. I was really disappointed when I got to the West and discovered that they had it too! Bombay is India’s most cosmopolitan city, because it stands on the border between north and south India, and faces to the West. Here you get every kind of Indian person, and there are also a lot of non-Indian people, so it’s a genuine, exciting metropolis.

paragraph BIn 1988, when I finished writing my last novel, I went to Mauritius. It was my after-the-book holiday. Finishing the novel was very exhausting and I really deserved to spend some time relaxing. The beach there is very beautiful. I love the sensation when you walk off the beach into the water and there’s no change of temperature, there’s just wet around you instead of air. People living there were incredibly friendly and curious and opened their homes to me. So it was an unusually fantastic beach holiday: instead of being just a tourist going for sun and drinks with umbrellas in them, I became a part of the place.



paragraph cWhen I’d just graduated from Cambridge in 1968, an English friend decided he was going to drive to India. His mother begged me to go along because – although he was a good driver – he was rather unworldly and she thought if I didn’t go with him he’d get into trouble or die. My parents said I could go, and then they didn’t know where I was for two months. The world was different then; you could get into a car in London and drive across Iran and Afghanistan. The car broke down on a deserted road in Iran, and I had to give a local truck driver enough money for him to pull us to the next town. The guy who did it was very helpful. He took us to where we could get the car repaired, then he got his mates to surround us and take all our money. Although we laugh about this experience now, it was definitely very threatening back then.

paragraph dThe southernmost tip of India is called Kanyakumari. It’s a bit touristy, but the first time I went there I managed to find a place to stand at the confluence of three great bodies of water, where it looks like the Indian Ocean, the Bay of Bengal, and the Great Southern Ocean are crashing into each other. Most beautiful views of the ocean are a little too pleased with themselves; they just sit there and look back at you and they are beautiful in exactly the same way every day. But this one was so dynamic, so busy “being”, that it didn’t care if anyone was watching, and the way the waves smashed into each other was never the same twice.

paragraph eMy favorite building is the Taj Mahal in Agra. It may be a little obvious that this would be my choice. But when I took my two sons there I was surprised at how their feelings about it were the same as mine had been when I first saw it. Even though I grew up in India, we never went to Agra so I didn’t see it until I was an adult. So like everyone else I had only seen a million copies of it – in photographs, on calendars and biscuit tins – and the thing that impressed me was how much more extraordinary it was than any copy of it. You couldn’t say that about the Mona Lisa, for example, which seems disappointing when you see this painting in the Louvre.

Tento typ cvičení vypadá na první pohled obtížně, pokud ale umíte používat vhodné strategie čtení, nemusíte se této části jazykových zkoušek bát (tento typ úloh najdete jak v FCE, tak i v maturitní zkoušce). Tímto cvičením je ověřována dovednost porovnat informace z více krátkých textů. V maturitní zkoušce přiřazujete ke každé úloze jeden odstavec. Jeden odstavec může být správnou odpovědí k více úlohám (otázkám). U některých jazykových zkoušek může být k jedné úloze více správných odpovědí.

Stejně jako při řešení jiných typů úloh i zde si podtrhávejte klíčová slova. Např.:

21 ... a situation when his life was in danger? (situace / v ohrožení)

22 ... his feelings that were the same as his children’s? (pocity / stejné jako jeho děti)

23 ... an event that is funny now but was not so funny when it happened? (událost / nepříjemná událost – nyní se tomu smějeme)

Při vyhledávání informací v textu používejte vhodné strategie čtení. Zběžně projděte celý text, abyste se v něm zorientovali. Při hledání informací nečtěte text podrobně. Detailní čtení je na místě teprve tehdy, až informaci najdete.

Používejte značky, podtrhávejte si. Označte si odstavce, které k příslušné úloze nepatří. Pokud máte pocit, že k jedné úloze patří dva odstavce, napište si jejich písmena vedle úlohy a pak si detailně přečtěte text v okolí informací v odstavcích.

H e l p



part FiveRead the article about Aikido, a type of martial art. For questions 32–46, choose the best answer: A, B or c.

Aikido _ The Art of PeaceMorihei Ueshiba, called O’Sensei (‘great teacher’), the founder of modern Aikido, was born in 1883 in the Wakayama Prefecture of Japan. Several events in his life helped to shape his beliefs and (32) _______ his design of a martial art that is, in many ways, unlike (33) _______ other practiced today.

As a small child, he witnessed an attack on his father, and because of this injustice he devoted himself (34) _______ physically powerful. He studied under martial art masters in several traditional forms. He became an expert in the styles of jujitsu (unarmed combat), kenjitsu (sword fighting), and sojitsu (spear fighting). O’Sensei (35) _______ later combine elements of these styles into modern Aikido.

(36) _______ his physical abilities, he found himself depressed. He turned to studying various religions and philosophies (37) _______ finding a deeper meaning to life. In his (38) _______ , he discovered and became a follower of a religion called Omotokyo, where the unification of all humanity is one goal. He reached the (39) _______ that it was important to train people’s minds and spirits as well as their bodies.

After being challenged to a duel by a fencing instructor, O’Sensei began to feel enlightened. During the match, the unarmed O’Sensei repeatedly avoided the fencing instructor’s hits, eventually (40) _______ him when the other man dropped from exhaustion. In his retelling of the incident, O’Sensei said he was aware (41) _______ his

opponent’s moves before he made them. He also realized that he (42) _______ an armed attacker without ever

harming or even laying a hand on him. Originally called aikibudo by its founder, this art that (43) _______ O’Sensei’s philosophy of harmony, protection and love, had a (44) _______ number of followers by the early

1920s. In the early 1940s his creation was being called Aikido, but it was still only practised by carefully chosen individuals in Japan. After the Second World War, Aikido was introduced to the world.

O’Sensei was a man of peace who followed his spiritual and philosophical vision. He taught that martial arts should (45) _______ as a means of living in harmony with oneself, the earth, and its inhabitants. Throughout his life he continued to (46) _______ his system to create the less violent and gently flowing techniques practised today.

32 A) persuaded B) influenced C) directed

33 A) any B) no C) all

34 A) to become B) becoming C) to becoming

35 A) will B) would C) must

36 A) Despite B) in spite C) Although

37 A) in the hope of B) hoping of C) in a hope to

38 A) exploring B) search C) hunt

39 A) completion B) finish C) conclusion

40 A) conquering B) defeating C) upsetting

41 A) to B) on C) of

42 A) was defeating B) had defeated C) did defeat

43 A) communicated B) expressed C) said

44 A) full B) big C) large

45 A) be used B) have used C) use

46 A) recover B) repair C) improve


ReADInG FoR tHe MAIn IDeA

What was the author’s aim in this article?

A) to present a brief history of Aikido.

B) to give the reader an insight into the techniques of Aikido.

C) to show the advantages and disadvantages of Aikido.

D) to encourage readers to start doing Aikido.

Solution on p. 3

Morihei ueshiba




coMPARInG tWo PLAces / PIctURes

A Look at the pictures. Where are the people?

a

B

U těchto úloh budete odpověď tvořit sami. Neznehodnoťte svou odpověď nečitelným rukopisem! Smíte napsat pouze jedno slovo a nesmíte použít stažený tvar, např. ‘can’t’. Doplněné slovo musí mít správný pravopis.

Nejprve se zamyslete nad tím, k jakému slovnímu druhu vynechané slovo patří (podstatné jméno, sloveso, zájmeno, příslovce atd.), zda má být v jednotném nebo množném čísle, kladném nebo záporném významu. Nezapomeňte, že tvoříme slova pomocí přípon (nejčastěji v těchto úlohách), předpon i změnou kmene slova.

H e l p

B What are some of the differences between a fresh fruit market and a supermarket? Write down your idea.

p o s s i b l e a N s w e r sFresh fruit market: Here the produce is / goods are cheaper. People can often try the produce / fruit and vegetables. Often the produce / fruit and vegetables are grown locally / are organic. The seller (vendor) often grows the produce and can tell you something about it. There is more personal interaction between buyer and seller.

Supermarket: In comparison to a fresh fruit market, it has a wider range of goods. Supermarkets are often crowded. Prices are more stable. People use trolleys (shopping carts) when they shop. People pay at the check out once they have selected everything. The people working in supermarkets know less about the goods they sell. Supermarkets are often open long hours and all week.

c try to compare pictures A and B. speak about what you see.

everyone enjoys going shopping, but some people like to shop a little too much. can shopping become an obsession? is it sometimes an outlet for how we feel about what is going on in our lives?

At best, shopping is an (0) activity that can promote self-definition, even healing. But like any (00) behaviour it can spin out of control. In extreme cases, there’s no doubt it’s a disorder. It can be as (47) _______ as drug or alcohol addiction.

Shopaholics often experience a strong sense of (48) _______ during the process of purchasing. This is accompanied by a sort of euphoria, or (49) _______ ; a ‘high’ that seems to give their life meaning while letting them forget about their sorrows. The problem is that there is usually a feeling of (50) _______ afterwards, followed by guilt.

Shopaholics lose the (51) _______ to deal with their everyday problems, (52) _______ those that affect their self-esteem. They believe that if they shop they will feel better and / or escape from life and its problems. (53) _______ , this is not the case.

Compulsive shopping will not ensure more love, improve your self-esteem, or heal the hurt, stress, and problems of daily life. It (54) _______ makes these feelings worse because of the increased (55) _______ debt the person has caused by their compulsive shopping.

If you recognize yourself in this article, there is an (56) _______ that can provide assistance. Shopaholics Anonymous can help you figure out why you feel the need to shop, and how to stop.

active

Behave

DAngeR

SAtiSFY

excite

Disappoint

ABLe

special

fortune

geneRAL

FinAnCe

oRgAniZe

part sixRead the article about compulsive shopping, also known as compulsive buying disorder. For questions 47–56, use the word given in capitals at the end of the line to form a word that fits in the space in the same line. There are two examples (0, 00) at the beginning.

Spend, Spend, Spend!


38 H i g H e r l e V e l / w r i t i n g

writing

part oneYour english teacher has asked you to write a review of a book, film or cD for the school english magazine. write a review of 210–240 words in the appropriate style and format.


WRItInG A ReVIeW

Remember that:

• a review should contain an introductory paragraph, body paragraphs and a conclusion. it must contain the reviewer’s opinion. The opinion should be delivered in a clear, concise (stručný, výstižný, zhuštěný) manner.

• as a reviewer, you must have a strong opinion supported with details and examples. As a reviewer, you should also use a voice, tone and personal style that make the review interesting.

Read the following review written by a student (not corrected) and decide if it includes / covers the points mentioned above.

“WhAT hapPeneD in NoWHERE?”

When I watched the movie, I was absolutely disappointed how can a director of this importance make such a bad movie . I was so bored that I almost fell asleep. At the beginning of the movie it didn’t seem so bad, because Chuck norris was almost beaten by Helmut the nose Ring. But he won again , so it started to be pretty boring. We even didn’t understand the main plot and why Paris Hilton was there . Chuck norris was acting as always, nothing special but still good. And Paris Hilton’s character was absolutely unnecessary. Anyone who has already saw her in the Internet knows how she cannot act. But who surprised was Helmut. The new talent from Madagascar. There were much memorable scenes, but my favorite, and the most funny was the ending of movie, when main three characters went to a yoga class together. Helmut again shown his talents. I was surprised how flexible Helmut is. I couldn’t recognise where the film was set. Everywhere bushes and deserts and even other people didn’t appear there . It seemed to me as middle of nowhere . Special effects during Chuck norris’ fight were very lame. As I said at the beginning the movie was disappointing, but on the other hand I would recommend it to people who likes stupid comedies or just have money to spend on nothing.

in general, the author uses an appropriate style and format for a review. However, the review is not divided into paragraphs! it is clear, though, that it contains information which would be found in an introduction, body and a conclusion.

The introduction is missing relevant information about the film (year, genre, director, etc.). Remember, the reader may not know anything about the film. generally, the body paragraphs should contain a synopsis or summary of the plot and the summary should make sense to a reader who does not know the movie. in this case, the author states that the plot was unclear, which is fine, but the reviewer misses the opportunity to show that he/she knows how to structure a plot.

The author makes use of proper vocabulary, such as main actor, plot, scene, part, acting, action, role, special effects, set (... where the film was set). generally, the range of vocabulary and phrases used is appropriate (e.g. importance, flexible, memorable, lame). The range of grammatical structures used is wide, but there are a few mistakes a higher level student should avoid (e.g. Chuck has won, Anyone who has already seen her in on the Internet knows how (that) she cannot act.; much many memorable scenes; the most funny funniest; when the three main characters; Helmut again shown showed...; Everywhere were bushes and deserts, ... / There were bushes everywhere, ...). Some of the sentences could be reformulated or linked together in a better way (e.g. Chuck Norris’ was acting as always was his usual.; Helmut., Tthe new talent from Madagascar.; how flexible Helmut he is / was.)

Also, the author obviously made this movie up, rather than writing about a real movie – i don’t see this as a problem, because the author followed the proper format for a review, but it is always better to write a review about something you know and that your reader can relate to. (in general, the factual information in a review should be correct.) Lastly, i would suggest some changes in the choice of words in the conclusion. The review should get a passing mark, although barely.


39H i g H e r l e V e l / w r i t i n g


Read the following letter (original version – not corrected) and decide if it includes / covers the points mentioned above. try to correct the letter. Think of anything that can be improved in the letter.

Do not look at Michael’s comments before finishing the tasks.

part twoYou are studying in Britain and you have recently received a letter from a friend, Susan, who is interested in arranging a day trip for a group of students. Read part of susan’s letter, the advertisement and the notes you have made. Then write a letter to susan, using all your notes. write 100–120 words in an appropriate style.

“…and the students in my class are really interested in going on the boat trip advertised in Hydro Magazine. I know you went on this boat trip with your class recently. Could you tell me what it was like and whether you’d recommend it?”

letter two:Dear Susan ,

I’m glad you asked me about this hot topic. I can tell you, it ’s really worth trying. I’ll be happy to give you some advice .

Well , the first thing you should know is that your group must be consist of a minimum of 15 people to make the trip cheeper. My advice is to take the earlier departure at 9 a.m., because theye are fewer passengers at this hour than if you left at 11 a.m. There’s a lunch at the restaurant but if I were you, I’d rather take a packed lunch and enjoy the 40 minutes lunch pause in the sun – and then have more time for waterskiing.

Gotta go – enjoy the trip.

Salma

corrected version:Dear Susan ,

I’m glad you asked me about this hot topic. I can tell you, it ’s really worth trying. I’ll ’d / would be happy to give you some advice .

Well , the first thing you should know is that your group must be consist of a minimum of 15 people to make the trip cheeaper. My advice is to take the earlier departure at 9 a.m., because theye there are fewer passengers at this hour than if you left leave at 11 a.m. There’s a lunch at the restaurant but if I were you, I’d rather take a packed lunch and enjoy the 40 minutes lunch pause break in the sun – and then have more time for waterskiing.

Gotta go / Got to go – enjoy the trip.

Salma

Castle and lake Boat trips Ô Departures 9 a.m. or 11 a.m. daily Ô Lunch at restaurant Ô Afternoon at lake with choice of water sports

Ô Reasonable prices with reductions for groups

Advertisement in Hydro Magazine:susan’s letter: your notes:

• earlier boat less crowded

• take a packed lunch because ……..

• You must try …….. (watersport)

• group minimum is 15

5 119 words – perfect!

5 This is near to a perfect letter.

5 All the tasks were completed (the “you must try… (watersport)” is a bit vague, but it’s there) – the form, style and language are all appropriate – and not one of the few errors hinders understanding in any way.


40 H i g H e r l e V e l / s p e a K i n g

StuDent’S taSk SHeet

The examiner is going to ask you some questions about travelling. please answer the questions in as much detail as possible. if you don’t understand a question, please ask the examiner to repeat it.

interLoCutor‘S taSk SHeet

I am going to ask you some questions about travelling. Please give detailed answers. If you don’t understand the question, please ask me to repeat it. Are you ready?

1 How do you spend your time when you are on holiday and the weather is bad?

2 Do you prefer winter holidays or summer holidays? why?

3 when was the last time you travelled abroad? tell me something about it.

4 if you could go anywhere in the world for a holiday, where would you go? why?

5 Do you think it is important to buy travel insurance before going to other countries? why? why not?

6 what do you think are some of the benefits of travel?

part one travelling 2.5 mins.

speaking


A Read the following authentic student answers (A–e) to five questions about travelling. try to match the answers A–e with five of the questions (1–6). Which question was the student not asked?

note: The answers are a transcript of a student’s authentic answers. no mistakes were corrected.

student:

A) “i prefer summer holidays because i don’t like winter. i don’t like the cold and i think there are more options in summer about things what to do. i like swimming in a pool ... not just indoor, but outdoor.”

B) “i usually go into a gallery or museum to see some exhibition ... temporary or ... Yeah. “

C) “on saturday. i was in vienna with my friends and the weather was bad. it was cloudy and cold and there were many people. i don’t like it ... but the town is nice. “

D) “i can get to know new culture, new people, new places, see some statues and buildings i don’t have in here. “

e) “Yes, yes. it’s the first thing i make sure about that i have because, well, i know it doesn’t have to be intended ... it’s just a bad coincidence and something happens and it’s better to have insurance because of health and because of material ... and other stuff. “

B Answer the following questions:

• Did the student give short or detailed answers?

• was there anything that made the understanding of the answers difficult?

• were the answers grammatically correct? if not, can you correct or improve the answers?

• Did the student use appropriate / correct vocabulary? if not, can you correct or improve the answers?

c now let‘s practise answering another set of questions. What is the common topic of the questions? Answer the questions.

• Do you get along well with your neighbours? why? why not?

• what would you like to change in your house / apartment / room? why?

• what do you think are the advantages and disadvantages of living alone?

• what do you think houses in the future will be like?

• How can houses be made more environmentally friendly? what do you think?

• Can you give some reasons why people become homeless?

Otázky jsou řazeny od konkrétních / osobních k obecným. Většina otázek na vyšší úrovni obtížnosti je obecných. Otázky jsou také gramaticky variabilní a pokrývají rozmanité oblasti slovní zásoby.

Ukažte v odpovědích dostatečně širokou slovní zásobu.

H e l p

note: The examiner is going to ask you 3–5 questions from the six questions above.


41H i g H e r l e V e l / s p e a K i n g

part two culture 4 mins.

Part two consists of two tasks.


UsInG coMPARIson WoRDs

A try to use the following comparison words to express similarities in 2A and 2B:

Both, the same, also, as well, too

B try to use the following comparison words to express differences in 2A and 2B.

But, on the other hanD, Different/ DiFFeRenCe, on tHe ContRARY, in contrast, whereas

Nejprve sdělte zkoušejícímu, zda s tvrzením souhlasíte / nesouhlasíte, např.:

I totally /definitely agree with this statement. / I disagree with this statement. / Even though I agree with this statement I don’t think art lessons will ever be part of our school timetable. …

Nyní obhajte svůj názor (uveďte argumenty pro / proti, popřípadě příklady), např.:

If P.E. is part of the school education, art(s) should be a compulsory subject as well because I think sports are as important as art(s). / School prepares us for jobs and to be good citizens. In my opinion, art is as important as P.E.

Furthermore, students are generally very creative and art lessons could help them to express themselves. / Furthermore, a weak student in maths

can be strong in arts, which can be a motivation to like school more / better. / Art is an important part of every nation’s culture, so it should be part of our education.

Postupujte od obecného ke konkrétnímu. V závěru zmiňte vlastní zkušenost / postoj, např.: I would love to have at least one art lesson a week because...

H e l p

task one (2.5 mins.)Look at pictures 2A and 2B. The pictures show people listening to music performances. Look at the pictures and compare them. The following ideas may help you:

• who? • what? • where?

• when? • why?

task two (1.5 mins.)express and justify your opinion on the following statement:

“Both primary and secondary school students can benefit from art lessons. Therefore, art lessons should become a regular part of education even at upper-secondary schools.”

2B

note: Art refers to visual (painting, art photography, art history, etc.) and performing arts (dancing, music, drama, etc.)

2a

2B


42 H i g H e r l e V e l / s p e a K i n g

part tHree The united states of america 5 mins.

in Part Three you should speak on your own about the united states of america. use the map on your task sheet and pictures 3A–3D to illustrate your speech.

The following ideas may help you:

• LoCAtion

• government / political SYSteM

• SYMBoLS

• geography (lanDscape, weather, people, cities, eConoMY)

• places of interest

• culture

• otHeR

Využijte maximálně čas na potítku. U bodů osnovy si udělejte heslovitě poznámky. Vhodnou formou poznámek je také vytvoření mentální mapy. V duchu / Na papíře si zkuste spojit poznámky do vět. Pokud se soustředíte u zkoušení pouze na jeden / dva body osnovy, buďte si jisti, že se vás zkoušející zeptá i na další body.

Promluvu si vhodně zorganizujte již na potítku. O čem budete mluvit nejdříve? Co bude následovat? Neskákejte nahodile mezi oblastmi.

Zorientujte se na mapě již na potítku. U zkoušky vše, o čem hovoříte, ukazujte. Zkuste namísto “Here” uvést kde místo leží, např.: on the west coast / in the Rocky Mountains / in the Pacific Ocean.

Popis obrázků si nenechávejte na konec promluvy. Ukažte, že je umíte vhodně začlenit do promluvy, např.: The capital city is Washington, D.C. We can see one of the most important buildings, the White House, in picture 3A. The White House is… Other important cities in the USA are… / American football (point at the picture) is one of the most popular sports in the USA. Other popular sports are…

H e l p

3a 3B

3C 3D


43H i g H e r l e V e l / s p e a K i n g

Využijte čas na potítku efektivně. Nejprve si řekněte / napište u každého obrázku v bodech argumenty pro a proti, např.:

Gocanoeing/raftingona river:J fun with friends, adventure, nature, new places to see; L wet, weather, tent, new experience

Gotoa musicfestival: J lots of fun and music, favourite groups / singers, atmosphere, freedom, nightlife; L hygiene, tent, weather

Spenda weekendinthe mountains: J fresh air, go hiking, losing weight, view, new places; L weather, don’t like walking / hiking, getting tired, difficult mountain terrain, boots necessary

Go ballooning: J view, excitement, new experience, adventure; L afraid of heights, weather, dangerous, expensive

Napadá vás jiná vhodná aktivita?

Nezapomeňte, že dobré hodnocení získáte tehdy, budete-li aktivní a budete-li diskutovat, tzn. uvádět argumenty pro a proti, navrhovat, rozvíjet návrhy, projevovat zájem, reagovat na návrhy / otázky apod.

Nezapomeňte, že se máte s kamarádem dohodnout. Chopte se na konci diskuse / rozhovoru iniciativy a shrňte, na čem jste se dohodli.

H e l p

4a 4B

4C 4D

in Part Four of the exam, you and the examiner are going to talk together. imagine the following situation:

You and your english-speaking friend are planning a weekend together. You know that your friend doesn’t want to stay in the city during the weekend. You should discuss the weekend with your friend. First, you should agree on a place (places) to go and then talk about the details of the trip. The examiner is going to play the role of your friend and will start the conversation. Use the following ideas:

part Four Free time 3 mins.


you and your english‑speaking friend are looking at four advertisements for adventure weekend trips. you should discuss what kind of people (age, physical / personality characteristics etc.) would be suitable for the activities advertised. you should also agree on one activity that you and your friend would like to try.

44


n at u r e / u K

nature’s Besttop landmarks in the ukit’s thought that over 30 million people visit great Britain every year – a large percentage head to london to its many tourist attractions and museums, some head to the castles of scotland or wales, others to the musical cities of manchester or liverpool, or to famous sights like stonehenge. But a good few put on their hiking boots and backpacks, and head to the variety of natural wonders to be explored.

The white cliffs of doverThe White Cliffs of Dover, the first landmark you see on the horizon when crossing the English Channel from the Continent to Britain, hold a special place in the hearts and minds of many people. Dover is a major ferry2 port and is only 34 kilometres from continental Europe, and on a clear day you can even see France. But it’s these iconic cliffs that mark the gateway3 to Great Britain. The White Cliffs are also a symbol of the nation’s strength. Julius Caesar, while looking for a suitable landing place on the British coast in 55 BC, saw “the enemy’s forces, armed, and in position on all the hills [cliffs] there”. Many centuries later German bombers flew over the cliffs in the Battle of Britain, and Vera Lynn sang a now famous song called, ‘(There’ll Be Bluebirds over) the White Cliffs of Dover’ to raise the spirits4 of the British troops5. The cliffs, which stretch6 for 12 kilometres along the coast, can reach up to 100 metres in height. They are made of chalk7 and are under a continuous attack from the sea. About 2–5 centimetres are lost on average8 each year.

The Jurassic coastMuch further along the south coast is another historical coastline, but it is famous for a different reason than the cliffs of Dover. The Jurassic Coast is a geologist’s heaven – with examples of 185 million years of geological history. You can take strolls9 along the beaches to look at the rocks or high cliff-top walks with amazing views of Durdle Door, a natural limestone10 arch11 in the sea, and Lulworth Cove12, a perfectly formed natural sea cove. Another must-see is Chesil Beach, one of the finest pebble13 beaches in the world and one of southern England’s most visited landmarks. Behind this 29-kilometre beach lies a little salt lagoon. Both are sites of special scientific interest and protected natural areas. But the real fun is fossil hunting14, searching for ammonites15 and other sea creatures on the fossil-rich beaches near Lyme Regis.

Jo molloy (uK)

You've heard of Jurassic Park, no doubt, but did you know that england has a real Jurassic Coast? The Jurassic Coast in Southwest england is composed of wild beaches, white cliffs and stunning rock formations, such as the stone arch known as Durdle Door.

45


mount snowdon in snowdonia, walesAcross the Bristol Channel, heading through to the north of Wales you’ll hit Mount Snowdon, known as one of the UK’s ‘busiest mountains’, because of its user-friendly16 trails17 ranging from easy to very difficult. If you reach the summit18 on a clear day you are rewarded with panoramic views of England, Scotland, Ireland and, of course, Wales. Snowdonia National Park covers 2,170 square kilometres, and if you’re not climbing Snowdon, you can visit one of its many waterfalls, slate mines19, stone quarries20, or travel on the mountain railway.

The giant’s causewayCatch the ferry across the Irish Sea to Northern Ireland’s most visited natural wonder, the Giant’s Causeway. The locals call it the 8th wonder of the world. It consists of 40,000 five-sided to seven-sided basalt columns21 which are over 50 million years old. These pillar-shaped22 rocks stand side by side, some reaching up to 12 metres. The name Giant’s Causeway comes from a legend about two fighting giants – one of them built the causeway and the other one broke it.

The scottish HighlandsIf you’re looking for pure23 wilderness, rugged24 outdoors and dramatic scenery, then head to the Scottish Highlands, dominated by the impressive Ben Nevis, the UK’s highest mountain at 1,344 metres. Fort William, one of the main towns in the Highlands, is the main base25 for mountain walking, hiking and climbing. But it’s not just the mountains that attract visitors – the town is known as the UK’s outdoor capital, and pretty much everything is available, from fly fishing26, cycling and mountain biking to canoeing and kayaking. And Loch Ness, one of Scotland’s most popular tourist attractions, is just over an hour away – there you can try to spot the legendary Loch Ness Monster, also known as Nessie.

The part of Britain in the picture is often voted the number one tourist spot by Britons because of its stunning27 landscape, wildlife and cultural heritage. Can you guess its name? to help you, the poet wordsworth wrote his famous poem ‘i wandered lonely as a cloud’ about this part of Britain.

Send an SMS with your answer, your name and the name of your school to 604 249 363 or 724 085 053 by february 14. you can win a uK travel guide.

V o c a b u l a r y1 head to – směřují, míří do2 ferry["feri] – trajekt3 gateway["geItweI] – (vstupní) brána4 toraisethe spirits[reIz] – pozvednout

náladu / kuráž5 troops [tru;ps] – vojsko, vojenské

jednotky / oddíly6 to stretch [stretS] – táhnout se

7 chalk [tSO;k] – křída8 on average [Qn "&v(@)rIdZ] – v průměru9 totakea stroll[str@Ul] – procházet se,

jít na procházku10 limestone ["laImst@Un] – vápencový11 arch [A;tS] – oblouk12 cove [k@Uv] – zátoka13 pebble ["peb(@)l] – oblázkový

14 fossil hunting ["fQs(@)l, -sIl] – hledání zkamenělin / fosilií

15 ammonite ["&m@naIt] – amonit (vymřelý hlavonožec)

16 user-friendly– příjemný pro uživatele17 trail [treIl] – stezka, pěšina, cesta18 summit ["sVmIt] – vrchol hory19 slate mine [sleIt maIn] – břidlicový důl20 stonequarry["kwQri] – kamenolom

21 basalt column ["b&sO;lt, -(@)lt

"kQl@m] – čedičový sloupec22 pillar-shaped ["pIl@ SeIpt] – ve tvaru

pilířů / sloupů23 pure [pjU@] – čistý, ryzí24 rugged ["rVgId] – drsný, skalnatý25 base [beIs] – základna26 flyfishing– muškaření 27 stunning ["stVnIN] – nádherný

competitioN

You can watch Jo speaking about the top landmarks in the uk on the DVD.

46


M At U R I tA / s p e a K i n g – s p e c i f i c t o p i c s

usaThe United States of America was founded on July 4, 1776. A former British colony, it fought the Revolutionary War to earn freedom. Today there are 50 states and a federal district (Washington, D.C.). The US is bordered by Canada (in the north) and Mexico (in the south). Alaska (the largest state) and Hawaii are separated from the US mainland.

With an area of more than 9 million square kilometers, the US is the third largest country in the world, and the geography is very varied. The east coast has many cities, like New York City, Boston and the capital, Washington, D.C. The middle of the country is quite flat; this is where most of the farming occurs. The southern half is more tropical in the east and more desert-like in the west. The western half also has many mountains (the Rocky Mountains) and national parks. The longest US river is the Missouri River, followed by the Mississippi River. The highest mountain is Mount McKinley in Alaska (6,196 m).

There are about 300 million people in the US. The country is often called a “melting pot” because it is made up of so many different ethnic groups. There are five major ones: White, Black, Hispanic, Asian and Native American.

The American political system is laid out in its Constitution. The government is divided into three branches: the executive, legislative and judicial. The executive branch is made up of the president and his cabinet, or advisors. The legislative branch is the section that makes the laws. It is made up of two houses, the Senate and the House of Representatives. Together they form the Congress. The judicial branch is the federal court system, which enforces and defines the laws made by Congress. The highest court in the country is called the Supreme Court.

There are a lot of natural attractions in the US, such as Yellowstone National Park with its geysers and Yosemite National Park with its rocks and waterfalls. The Grand Canyon is a spectacular canyon on the Colorado River. In Sequoia National Park you can find some of the largest living trees on Earth. Everglades National Park in Florida is a special wetland where you can see many animals including alligators.

the ukThe United Kingdom (UK) is a state located on the British Isles in the Atlantic Ocean, northwest of continental Europe. It is part of Europe but separated from France by the English Channel. The UK is made up of four countries, England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales.

Great Britain is the largest of the British Isles (1,000 km long, 480 km wide). Apart from it, the UK occupies part of the island of Ireland and numerous other small islands.

The north and north-west of the country are more mountainous, while the south and east have softer rolling hills and flat lands. The longest river is the River Severn, flowing through Wales and England, followed by the River Thames. The mild climate means that there are no real weather extremes.

The UK is a very populated country with over 60 million people. The main language spoken is English, but there are lots of regional dialects (accents) across the country. Gaelic is spoken in some areas of Scotland, and Welsh is the second language spoken in Wales.

The UK is a constitutional monarchy and has a parliamentary democracy, but the country is also ruled by a monarch (the head of the royal family), currently Queen Elizabeth II. The major political parties are the Conservative Party (right wing) and the Labour Party (left wing).

London is the capital and the biggest city. Other main cities are Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Newcastle, Cardiff and Liverpool.

The UK has a lot of history. One of its oldest monuments is Stonehenge, a circle of stones which is 5,000 years old. The oldest human remains, found in Cheddar Gorge, are 9,000 years old.

Other famous places include the Scottish Highlands with Ben Nevis, the UK’s highest mountain (1,344 m), and Loch Ness in Scotland, the basalt columns of the Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland, the university towns of Oxford and Cambridge, Stratford-upon-Avon, where Shakespeare was born, and of course London.

irelandIreland (Éire) is an island about 486 km long and 275 km wide, separated from Great Britain by the Irish Sea. It has an extremely mild climate and lots of rain – good for growing grass, which is why is it known as the Emerald Isle.

The island has had an interesting political history, struggling to gain independence from the UK, and since 1921 it has been divided politically into two parts.

The majority of the island, 26 counties (or administrative districts), are known as the Republic of Ireland and the population is 4.5 million. The remaining 6 counties in the north are called Northern Ireland, and remain part of the United Kingdom. Northern Ireland has a population of 2 million and its main city is Belfast.

Irish Gaelic is the official native language of the Republic of Ireland, but in reality English is used in everyday life.

Dublin is the capital city and is over 1,000 years old. It has a strong history of writers and poets like Oscar Wilde and James Joyce. Its main tourist attractions are Dublin Castle, St Patrick’s Cathedral, O’Connell Street and the Guinness Brewery. The city has a lively Irish music and pub scene.

Other important towns are Cork, Limerick, Galway and Waterford. Top tourist sites include the Dingle Way Peninsula, the high Cliffs of Moher, the lakes of Killarney, Blarney Castle and other medieval castles and the Ring of Kerry (a tourist trail covering mountains, castles, rocky outcrops and bays).

Saint Patrick brought Christianity to Ireland in the year 430, and St Patrick’s Day (or St Paddy’s Day) is a big holiday for the Irish. It is celebrated on March 17. People dress up and there are street parades, fireworks, and lots of Guinness drinking.

47


canadaCanada is the second largest country in the world (measured by area). It is located in North America – south of the Arctic and north of the United States. The border between Canada and USA is the longest in the world at 8,891 km.

Canada has one of the world’s biggest islands – Baffin Island, which is twice the size of the UK. The country also has two of the biggest lakes in the world – Great Bear Lake and Great Slave Lake.

‘Kanata’ meaning ‘village’ or ‘settlement’ was the original name for the country. The French and British conquered the country, and now Canada is both French and English speaking.

Despite the amount of space, most of the 34 million people live close to the US border where the climate is milder. Consequently, Canada has vast tracks of land where you will find moose, grizzly bears, reindeer (caribou), beavers and wolves.

Canada is made up of 14 federal states. It is a constitutional monarchy. The monarch of the UK is the official head of state, but has little influence on Canadian politics and is represented by the Governor General, whose role is also symbolic. The everyday running of the country is carried out by the prime minister and his cabinet.

Ottawa is the capital; other important cities are Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton and Quebec. The city of Toronto is known for its CN Tower, which used to be the highest tower in the world. Vancouver is famous for its outdoor sports and the 2010 winter Olympics took place here. Montreal in French-speaking Canada is a culturally interesting city (jazz festival, film festival...).

Other popular tourist attractions include the spectacular Niagara Falls and the Canadian Rockies (Rocky Mountains).

Canada has the second largest oil reserves in the world and is a leader in mining uranium.

Canada is also famous for its ‘Mounties’ or mounted police. They wear a red uniform and ride on horseback.

new zealandNew Zealand is about 2,000 km southeast of Australia, and it is one of the world’s most remote nations. It is made up of two major islands, the North Island and the South Island, and a number of smaller islands.

New Zealand’s natural beauty is evident in its huge mountains on the South Island and its volcanic activity on the North Island. It is the result of geological activities which also make the island prone to earthquakes.

The first inhabitants were the Maoris. In 1642 the first Europeans discovered the islands, and then they started settling in large numbers in the 19th century. Today, the total population is 4.3 million.

The Maori language is the official language of New Zealand, though English is by far more widely spoken and is used in all aspects of everyday life.

New Zealand is a constitutional monarchy, which means democratic decisions are made by the parliament, but the British monarch is still the head of state. Her representative is the Governor General. The effective head of the country is the prime minister, who sits in the House of Representatives, which is the only chamber of parliament.

The capital of New Zealand is Wellington, on the North Island; the other major city on the island is Auckland. Other important cities are Christchurch and Dunedin on the South Island.

New Zealand is known for its spectacular scenery – from the coastlines and beaches of the Bay of Plenty, to the lakes and national parks of Taupo and the fjords of Millford Sound. One of the country’s top attractions is its glaciers, Franz Joseph and Fox Glacier, which visitors can hike up, or even fly over in a helicopter. Rotorua is popular especially with those who want to visit the Maori culture. It’s also an area known for its volcanic activity, geysers, and steaming mud pools.

Everywhere you look there are sheep in New Zealand. In fact it’s thought that for every one person there are nine sheep! The animal most associated with the country, though, is the native kiwi bird – it’s become such a symbol that even New Zealanders themselves are known affectionately as ‘Kiwis’.

australiaAustralia is the smallest continent and the sixth largest country in the world. Located in the Southern Hemisphere, south of Asia, it is sometimes called ‘Down Under’ because it is under the equator.

Australia has only 22.5 million people and is one of the least densely populated countries. The first people to live there were Aborigines, who came over 40,000 years ago. They are known for their art, spiritual beliefs and music – played on a didgeridoo, a wind instrument. Today they make up a small proportion of the total population, and Australia is a country of migrants (people who have moved from other countries). Despite the size of the continent, most people live in cities along the coast.

Australia is a constitutional monarchy (the British monarch is the official head of state). It is made up of six states and two major territories, each of which has its own parliament. The federal parliament is found in Australia’s capital, Canberra.

Canberra lies roughly half way between Australia’s two largest cities, Sydney and Melbourne. Sydney is famous for the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge. Melbourne is known for art and entertainment. Other important cities include Perth, Brisbane and Adelaide.

Queensland has amazing beaches and the Great Barrier Reef – a coral reef where you can go snorkelling or diving. In the interior of the country is the red Australian desert where visitors come to see Uluru (Ayers Rock). The west coast has a wine region and miles of unspoilt beaches. Tasmania, an island 240 km south of the mainland, is known for its unspoilt nature.

Australia is famous for its unique wildlife, which evolved to survive the difficult conditions. Some of the most famous animals include the kangaroo, koala and wombat. These animals are marsupials – their young develop in a pouch. The world’s second largest bird, the emu, is native to Australia. The continent also has many reptiles such as crocodiles and snakes. 7 out of 10 of the most poisonous snakes in the world can be found in Australia.

48


M At U R I tA / s p e a K i n g – s p e c i f i c t o p i c s

londonLondon is the capital city of the United Kingdom and, with a population of almost 8 million, it’s one of Europe’s largest and most cosmopolitan cities. A mix of people from all over the world have made it their home.

The city is 2,000 years old. In AD 50 the Romans chose to settle here and created the city of Londinium next to the River Thames. The River Thames was useful for merchant ships and trading, and today the river is still important for transport and tourism.

Some famous places not to miss include the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, The Tower of London and Tower Bridge (which can raise to let ships pass through). There are several museums with large collections that are free to the public, such as the British Museum, the National Gallery and the Science Museum.

Tourists also come to London to see Buckingham Palace, one of the Royal Family’s palaces, Westminster Abbey, St Paul’s Cathedral, Trafalgar Square, The London Eye (the tallest observation wheel in the world), Greenwich (with the Prime Meridian) and other attractions. They come to shop along Oxford Street, Covent Garden or at Camden Market. Londoners and visitors enjoy the city’s large green spaces, including Hyde Park and St James’s Park.

The best way to get around the city is by public transport, either the underground train, known as ‘the tube’ (which was build in 1863 and is the world’s first underground train system) or to take one of London’s iconic red double-decker buses.

The city of London is an important business and finance centre, and London has a huge influence on fashion, culture, politics, entertainment, media and sport across the UK and Europe. The 2012 Summer Olympics are going to take place there.

the czech republicThe Czech Republic is located in Central Europe. It shares borders with Germany, Poland, Slovakia and Austria. It is a land-locked country, which means there is no border with the sea. The country is made up of three regions, Bohemia, Moravia and Silesia.

The Czech Republic contains mountains (mostly along the borders), valleys and rolling hills. Southern Bohemia is famous for its many man-made ponds. The longest river in the Czech Republic is the Vltava (430 km), which flows into the Elbe (Labe), a major Central European river. The country has a temperate climate, with warm summers that are sometimes hot, and cold winters with snow.

There are a little over 10 million people living in the Czech Republic and they are mainly Czech. The top three immigrant groups are Ukrainians, Slovaks and Vietnamese.

The Czech government is a parliamentary democracy with two houses: the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate. The president is the head of state and is in charge of appointing the prime minister, who is the head of government. The president serves a five-year term; deputies serve a four-year term. The president is elected by parliament, but that might change as some people believe the president should be chosen directly by the people.

The country’s capital and largest city is Prague, located in Bohemia; the second largest city is Brno, located in Moravia. Other important cities include Ostrava, České Budějovice, Olomouc and Plzeň.

Popular places for tourists, besides Prague, include Český Krumlov, Kutná Hora, the spa town of Karlovy Vary, medieval castles like Karlštejn and the stalactite caves in the Moravian Karst. People like to go skiing in the Krkonoše Mountains (which include the highest Czech mountain, Sněžka, 1,602 m) and biking and hiking in the Šumava Mountains.

The Czech economy is primarily export-based, with industries like automotive, high-tech, glass and ceramic production, metal and electronics. Its main agricultural products are potatoes, wheat and hops.

praguePrague is the capital and largest city in the Czech Republic. It is located in central Bohemia, the western half of the country, on both banks of the Vltava River. About 1.2 million people live here and they come from all over the Czech Republic, as well as abroad.

Prague’s history goes back 11 centuries. In the past, it used to be the seat of Czech kings and for some time even the capital of the Holy Roman Empire. Today it is still an important political, cultural and economic centre. There are many educational institutions in Prague, including Charles University, as well as international companies, the government and the parliament, and many tourist attractions.

Prague is known for its beautiful architecture with many styles. Gothic, Baroque, Art Nouveau, Cubism and more can all be found here. The seat of the Czech president is located in Prague Castle, the largest castle complex in the world, according to the Guinness Book of World Records. Also at Prague Castle is one of the country’s most important churches, St. Vitus Cathedral, which holds the nation’s crown jewels. The Czech national cemetery, where many of the country’s most important cultural figures are buried, is at Vyšehrad. Other popular tourist attractions include Charles Bridge, the Old Town Square and the Astronomical Clock, the Lesser Quarter with its narrow streets, Wenceslas Square, and the Jewish Quarter with its old cemetery and synagogues. The Dancing House, built in the 1990s, is a fine example of modern architecture.

The city is very cultural. Some of the most important institutions for theatre, ballet and opera include the National Theatre, the State Opera House and the Estates Theatre. There are also many museums such as the National Museum, the Czech Museum of Music, the Mucha Museum and the Jewish Museum.

Sport is also popular in Prague, especially ice hockey and football.

You can get around the city using a dense network of public transport including the underground, buses, trams and even a funicular railway going up Petřín hill.

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american and British HolidaysDue to their shared history, Great Britain and the United States celebrate a lot of similar holidays.

Christmas is the annual holiday to commemorate the day Jesus Christ was born, celebrated on December 25. Father Christmas (in the UK) or Santa Claus (in the US) brings gifts for children in the morning, and families traditionally eat a roast turkey meal. Boxing Day (December 26) is also a public holiday in the UK.

Easter is in March or April and commemorates the death of Jesus Christ and the start of spring. It is another big family holiday, and children often paint and decorate eggs, and eat chocolate eggs.

Halloween, on October 31, is another shared holiday. Although it started in the UK, it became more popular in America. Typically people dress up in scary costumes like ghosts, devils and witches, and go ‘trick or treating’ – knocking on doors and asking for sweets. They also carve pumpkins to create jack-o’-lanterns and decorate their houses.

Guy Fawkes Night or Bonfire Night is a uniquely British celebration held on November 5 to commemorate the failed plot by the Catholic rebel Guy Fawkes to blow up parliament in 1605. It is celebrated with fireworks, bonfires and parties.

Thanksgiving is a special American holiday, always on the fourth Thursday in November. Originally the first Pilgrims gave thanks to God with a feast to celebrate their successful first harvest. Now it is an important family holiday with a roast turkey meal.

Independence Day, or the Fourth of July, is an important day for the USA. It is the anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the day the country announced its independence from Great Britain in 1776. Today it is celebrated with fireworks, parades, barbecues, picnics and family get-togethers.

On November 11 (the date when WWI ended in 1918) soldiers who have died in wars and war veterans are remembered. In the UK, it is called Remembrance Day and in the US Veterans Day.

american citiesThe most famous US city is probably New York City thanks to its museums, restaurants, Broadway shows and musicals, and shops. Other attractions include Liberty Island, with the Statue of Liberty, and the large Central Park. New York City is famous for its skyscrapers, such as the Chrysler Building and the Empire State Building. The latter is the tallest bulding in the city since the World Trade Center was destroyed in the 2001 terrorist attacks.

The capital of the US is Washington, D.C., named after the first US president, George Washington. In addition to the White House, where the president lives, and the Capitol Building, where Congress passes laws, there are many museums and memorial sites. The Mall (park) is a great place to visit many of these, like the Washington Monument, the Martin Luther King Memorial, the Vietnam War Memorial and the Lincoln Memorial.

The east coast has other popular cities for tourists, such as Boston, which is a historic city with a beautiful harbour.

On the west coast, in California, the most popular cities are Los Angeles and San Francisco. Los Angeles is best known for movies and movie stars. Visiting places like Hollywood, the beaches and doing lots of shopping is why people like L.A. San Francisco to the north is a diverse mix of people, history and culture. There is a large Asian population here and many of the city’s historic points, like cable cars, still exist. The city’s most famous landmark is the Golden Gate Bridge, which was built in the 1930s.

One of the country’s liveliest cities is Miami, in Florida. Besides the beach, there is a large Cuban influence here as well as lots of design and artists.

Texas, America’s second largest state, has many big cities, like Houston (where you can visit the Space Center), Austin, San Antonio and Dallas.

Holidays in the czech republicThere are 12 public holidays in the Czech Republic.

January 1, besides being New Year’s Day, is also the date the independent Czech Republic was founded in 1993, after the break-up of Czechoslovakia.

Easter is celebrated in either March or April, and is full of traditions. Popular folk customs include hand-painting eggs and lashing girls with pussy-willow sticks.

There are two holidays in May. May 1 is Labour Day (May Day), which is also celebrated in many other countries. It commemorates an 1886 strike by workers in Chicago who demanded an eight-hour workday. May 8 is Liberation Day and recalls the end of World War II.

In July there are two public holidays. On July 5, we remember Saints Cyril and Methodius, who brought Christianity to Great Moravia in the 9th century. July 6 is Jan Hus Day. This is the day the church reformer Jan Hus was burned at the stake in 1415.

St. Wenceslas Day is celebrated on September 28 (the day when St. Wenceslas was murdered) and is also called Czech Statehood Day.

One month later, on October 28, is Independent Czechoslovak State Day. We remember the day Czechoslovakia was created in 1918.

November 17 is the Struggle for Freedom and Democracy Day. This commemorates the student protests against the Nazis in 1938 and the demonstration in 1989 that started the Velvet Revolution.

In December, the holidays are all about Christmas. We celebrate Christmas with our families and friends on December 24, with a nice dinner (usually carp and potato salad) and open gifts. December 25 and 26 are two other Christmas holidays.

There are also some holidays we observe that aren’t public holidays. We celebrate St. Nicholas on December 5 in the evening before his feast day. Children get sweets from a person dressed like St. Nicholas, who is often accompanied by a devil and an angel. On May 5 we remember the date of the Czech uprising against the Germans in 1945.

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M At U R I tA / s p e a K i n g – s p e c i f i c t o p i c s50


william shakespeareShakespeare is one of Britain’s most famous writers. His plays and sonnets (a type of poem) have been translated and read all over the world.

He was born in Stratford-upon-Avon in 1564, where he grew up. He married Anne Hathaway and they had three children, but he left his family behind and travelled to London to become a playwright.

In London, Shakespeare started a very successful career as an actor and writer. He was also part owner of a ‘playing company’ (company of actors) called the Lord Chamberlain’s Men (later called the King’s Men). The company built their own open-air theatre on the south bank of the River Thames – the Globe.

Going to the theatre became very popular in the 1600s and Shakespeare became a very well-known playwright. Even Queen Elizabeth I was a big fan of his plays. When he eventually retired and moved back to Stratford he was a rich and successful man. He died aged 52 (in 1616) and is buried in Stratford.

Shakespeare wrote 38 plays and 157 sonnets. One of his most famous plays is Romeo and Juliet, which is a tragic love story about two lovers from feuding families. Hamlet is thought to be his best play and is about a prince who gets revenge on his uncle for the murder of the king (the prince’s father).

Shakespeare’s plays are often classified as being either tragedies, like King Lear or Macbeth, comedies, like A Midsummer Night’s Dream or The Taming of the Shrew, or they are historical, like Henry IV or King John.

Today, the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford puts on many of his plays in the town, and his house has become a famous tourist destination. The original Globe theatre was demolished, but a replica now stands near its original spot. It is a popular tourist attraction in London.

the european unionThe European Union is thought to have begun in 1951 when France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg signed the Treaty of Paris and created the European Coal and Steel Community. The basic aim of this community was to make war among the members impossible.

The next step was the formation of the EEC (the European Economic Community). This organization set out a common economic and agricultural policy. The UK, Ireland and Denmark joined in 1973. In 1981 Portugal and Spain joined. During this period, in 1979, the first direct elections to the European Parliament occurred.

The European Union as we know it today dates from 1993 with the signing of the Maastricht Treaty. Gradually, more countries joined, and today the EU has 27 members. The Czech Republic and Slovakia joined in 2004.

To be allowed to join the EU, a state must meet certain rules, called the Copenhagen criteria, such as having a democratic government, a functioning market economy, and guaranteeing human rights.

The members of the European Parliament are directly elected by citizens of the EU states every five years. The parliament meets in Strasbourg, France, and Brussels, Belgium. Brussels is home to many other EU institutions as well (the European Council, the European Commission...), so it is something like the EU capital.

In 1999 the Euro, the common currency for the European Union, was established. The first notes were printed in 2002. Countries which use the Euro (currently there are 17 of them) are said to belong to the Eurozone.

Another policy of the European Union is the idea of the free movement of people. To promote this the Schengen Agreement was adopted in 1985 between five nations. This agreement was then expanded in 1997 and again in 2007 to include most continental European nations. There are no border controls within the Schengen Agreement area, so EU citizens can freely travel from one country to another without a passport. Not all EU members are part of the Schengen Agreement (e.g. the UK and Ireland did not sign it) and not all Schengen States are in the EU (e.g. Switzerland and Norway).

education in the ukThe education system of the United Kingdom is governed by each of the four countries: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

In England education is divided into four levels: nursery (ages 3–4), primary education (ages 5–11), secondary education (ages 12–18) and tertiary education (ages 18+). Education is compulsory for all children aged between five and 16. Children start in the year they turn five.

The school year in England usually begins on September 1. The students have a number of holidays throughout the year. There are the autumn, spring and summer half-terms holidays in October, February and June respectively. They last a week. Students also have two weeks over Christmas and five weeks from the end of July to the end of August.

All students must study English, maths and science from ages five to 16. Other subjects are compulsory only at certain stages. The vast majority of secondary schools in Britain today are comprehensive and state-run. This means the school does not select in advance what type of student can attend and education is free.

A small number of grammar schools continue to exist. The term can be used either for a state-run selective school, which requires the student to pass a test, or a privately-run independent school. These schools are also called ‘public schools’. They are not state run and the students’ parents pay for tuition.

Assessment in the UK starts with the GCSE (General Certificate of Secondary Education). These exams take place in year 11 (when students are 16 years old). If the students have satisfactory grades they can then study for their A levels. Results from A levels are used to determine if students can qualify to get into universities. Students pay for their university studies although there are ways of getting government support.

You can find other materials covering maturita topics at www.bridge-online.cz in the “Maturitní

speciál – Maturitní témata” section.

creek – potok; mud – bláto

to oversleep – zaspat; nap – zdřímnutí

hind – zadní

course – chod (jídla)

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tohaveadoublemajorin – to have a degree with two main subjects; gathering – collecting (fruits, nuts, berries, etc.)

lampshade collar – ochranný límec (lampshade – stínítko lampy)

pieceofcake – an easy task

bridge_kompletní maturitní speciál leden-únor 2012

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