1 Follow the link to do the exercise
https://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/phrasal-verbs/exercises
Text 1. You are going to read an extract from a novel. For questions 1 – 8, choose the answer (A, B, C or D) which you think fits best according to the text.
I shifted uncomfortably inside my best suit and eased a finger inside the tight white collar. It was hot in the little bus and I had taken a seat on the wrong side where the summer sun beat on the windows. It was a strange outfit for the weather, but a few miles ahead my future employer might be waiting for me and I had to make a good
impression.
There was a lot depending on this interview. Many friends who had qualified with me were unemployed or working in shops or as labourers in the shipyards. So many that I had almost given up hope of any future for myself as a veterinary surgeon. There were usually two or three jobs advertised in the Veterinary Record each week and an average of eighty applicants for each one. It hadn’t seemed possible when the letter came from Darrowby in Yorkshire. Mr S. Farnon would like to see me on the Friday afternoon; I was to come to tea and, if we were suited to each other, I could stay on as his assistant. Most young people emerging from the colleges after five years of
hard work were faced by a world unimpressed by their enthusiasm and bursting line 15 knowledge. So I had grabbed the lifeline unbelievingly.
The driver crashed his gears again as we went into another steep bend. We had been climbing steadily now for the last fifteen miles or so, moving closer to the distant blue of the Pennine Hills. I had never been in Yorkshire before, but the name had always raised a picture of a region as heavy and unromantic as the pudding of the same name; I was prepared for solid respectability, dullness and a total lack of charm. But as the bus made its way higher, I began to wonder. There were high grassy hills and wide valleys. In the valley bottoms, rivers twisted among the trees and solid grey stone farmhouses lay among islands of cultivated land which pushed up the wild, dark hillsides.
Suddenly, I realised the bus was clattering along a narrow street which opened onto a square where we stopped. Above the window of a small grocer’s shop I read ‘Darrowby Co-operative Society’. We had arrived. I got out and stood beside my battered suitcase, looking about me. There was something unusual and I didn’t know what it was at first. Then it came to me. The other passengers had dispersed, the driver had switched off the engine and there was not a sound or a movement anywhere. The only visible sign of life was a group of old men sitting round the clock tower in the centre of the square, but they might have been carved of stone.
Darrowby didn’t get much space in the guidebooks, but where it was mentioned it was described as a grey little town on the River Arrow with a market place and little of interest except its two ancient bridges. But when you looked at it, its setting was beautiful. Everywhere from the windows of houses in Darrowby you could see the hills. There was a clearness in the air, a sense of space and airiness that made me feel I had left something behind. The pressure of the city, the noise, the smoke – already they seemed to be falling away from me. Trengate Street was a quiet road leading off the square and from there I had my first sight of Skeldale House. I knew it was the right place before I was near enough to read S. Farnon, Veterinary Surgeon on the old-fashioned brass nameplate. I knew by the ivy which grew untidily over the red brick, climbing up to the topmost windows. It was what the letter had said – the only house with ivy; and this could be where I would work for the first time as a veterinary surgeon. I rang the doorbell.
A seat.
B clothes.
C career.
D means of transport.
2 What had surprised the writer about the job?
A There had been no advertisement.
B He had been contacted by letter.
C There was an invitation to tea.
D He had been selected for interview.
3 The writer uses the phrase ‘I had grabbed the lifeline’ (line 15) to show that he felt
A confident of his ability.
B ready to consider any offer.
C cautious about accepting the invitation.
D forced to make a decision unwillingly.
4 What impression had the writer previously had of Yorkshire?
A It was a beautiful place.
B It was a boring place.
C It was a charming place.
D It was an unhappy place.
5 What did the writer find unusual about Darrowby?
A the location of the bus stop
B the small number of shops
C the design of the square
D the lack of activity
6 What did the writer feel the guidebooks had missed about Darrowby?
A the beauty of the houses
B the importance of the bridges
C the lovely views from the town
D the impressive public spaces
7 How did the writer recognise Skeldale House?
A The name was on the door.
B It had red bricks.
C There was a certain plant outside.
D It stood alone.
8 How did the writer’s attitude change during the passage?
A He began to feel he might like living in Darrowby.
B He became less enthusiastic about the job.
C He realised his journey was likely to have been a waste of time.
D He started to look forward to having the interview.
Text 2 Read the text below. Match choices (A–H) to (1–5). There are two choices you do not need to use.
Making the Most of Your College Applications
By Melissa Algranati and Jennifer Gioia
You can't believe that after 12 years of education your future depends on what pearls of
genius you can cram onto a handful of pages – or that complete strangers will sit in a room
and determine if you will be "worthy" of attending their institution.
This can be a stressful time. Below are real questions answered by real college admissions
professionals in the United States.
0 _____A_____
Really concentrate on your extra-curricular resume and essay. These are the two areas that will
make you noticed. Take time to think about why you are involved in the activities that you are
doing. What do they mean to you? How have they shaped you? How might they be of value to
the university or college you will be attending?
1__________
Absolutely! A number of colleges and universities give scholarships and awards to those who
have been involved in leadership or community service projects. Include your involvement in
extracurricular activities, and make sure to highlight any honors or awards you have received.
You can also include it in your college essay, and talk about the skills you learned and
opportunities you had.
2 __________
It often depends on the school. Big universities and state schools get thousands and thousands of
applicants each year, so they tend to focus on your grade average, scores, and class ranking.
Smaller universities and colleges will have more time to focus on things like the essay,
recommendations, and extracurricular activities.
3 __________
Think about who knows you best. Who can talk about your academic achievements and
aspirations, as well as your character and qualities? Most students ask teachers, club advisors,
coaches, and mentors.
To get the best letters possible, make sure you identify people who are supportive of you. When
you ask them, let them know where you are applying and why. The goal is to choose someone
who will stress the strengths you have already highlighted, or provide an opportunity to add
something new about you that the admissions officer does not yet know.
4 __________
It definitely has an impact. You should always pay attention to your grades, especially those in
your junior year of high school. But don't fret. What universities look for most is an upward
trend, someone who is constantly getting better and improving.
If there is an unexpected event that caused your grades to drop, that will also be taken into
consideration. And, if you have only done well in a particular subject, you can highlight that
strength, stressing that you will use college as a way to really hone in and excel at your strengths
and your passions.
5 __________
Each university and college has a specific application fee, which can be found on the school's
website. A lot of times fee waivers are available. Check with your guidance counselor. In
addition, some schools will waive the fee if the student comes to visit the campus and takes a
tour or completes the school's online application.
A How do I create a power-packed application that stands out from all the other applications?
B My grades haven't been consistent throughout high school. Is that a problem?
C What do colleges look for most? Grades, extracurricular activities, volunteerism, or something
else?
D Where can I note any special needs or disability on my application?
E How much do I have to pay for my study once if I am enrolled?
F Lots of the colleges I am applying to ask for recommendations. Who should I ask?
G How much do application fees cost? What if I can't afford to pay them?
H Is my out-of-school activity something noteworthy to put down on the paperwork?
