Task 1
Imagine that you are preparing a project with your friend. You have found some interesting material for the presentation and you want to read this text to your friend. You have 1.5 minutes to read the text silently, then be ready to read it out aloud. You will not have more than 1.5 minutes to read it.
New Year is one of the most popular festivals in the world, even though it is celebrated at different times and in different ways. What’s common among these celebrations is the meaning of the new year; it is a time to say goodbye to the past and to think about new beginnings.
In many western countries, people get together with family and friends on December 31 to eat, drink, and dance as they wait for January 1. Some of the biggest parties are held on New Year’s Eve. People welcome the new year at midnight with fireworks.
For many Asian countries the New Year is based on a lunar calendar. The date changes from year to year, but usually falls between January 21 and February 21. It is traditionally seen as a time for family reunions, with people travelling across the country and from overseas. Many people wear red clothes, as it is thought to be a lucky color.
Task 2
Study the advertisement.
Your laser tag birthday starts here!
You are considering celebrating your birthday at this laser tag centre and now you’d like to get more information. In 1.5 minutes you are to ask four direct questions to find out about the following:
- theme options
- party room availability
- number of laser tag rounds
- birthday discounts
You have 20 seconds to ask each question.
Task 3
You are going to give an interview. You have to answer five questions. Give full answers to the questions (2–3 sentences). Remember that you have 40 seconds to answer each question.
Tapescript for Task 3
Interviewer: Hello everybody! It’s Teenagers Round the World Channel. Our guest today is a teenager from Russia and we are going to discuss New Year’s traditions. We’d like to know our guest’s point of view on this issue. Please answer five questions. So, let’s get started.
Interviewer: As a child, did you use to write letters to Ded Moroz asking for presents? Is this tradition still common among Russian children?
Student: _________________________
Interviewer: How do you decorate your home for New Year?
Student: _________________________
Interviewer: What traditional dishes are popular in Russia for New Year celebrations?
Student: _________________________
Interviewer: What’s your favourite New Year’s tradition, and why?
Student: _________________________
Interviewer: What New Year presents are popular among teenagers in Russia?
Student: _________________________
Interviewer: Thank you very much for your interview.
Task 4
Imagine that you and your friend are doing a school project “School clubs”. You have found some photos to illustrate it but for technical reasons you cannot send them now. Leave a voice message to your friend explaining your choice of the photos and sharing some ideas about the project. In 2.5 minutes be ready to:
- explain the choice of the illustrations for the project by briefly describing them and noting the differences;
- mention the advantages (1–2) of the two types of clubs;
- mention the disadvantages (1–2) of the two types of clubs;
- express your opinion on the subject of the project – which of these school clubs you’d prefer to join and why.
You will speak for not more than 3 minutes (12–15 sentences). You have to talk continuously.
