PART 1. PHONETICS

1. Find the word which has a different sound in the part underlined. Read the words aloud.

1. A. wet B. met C. head D. hand

2. A. girl B. burn C. turn D. pearl

3. A. left B. debt C. fan D. dead

4. A. train B. tale C. mine D. rain

5. A. die B. bicycle C. high D. min

6. A. meet B. feed C. speed D. fit

7. A. limit B. lipid C. treat D. hit

8. A. curve B. term C. gear D. herm

9. A. truck B. drunk C. mug D. dark

10. A. sign B. light C. bye D. tin

. Find the word which has a different sound in the part underlined. Read the words aloud.

1. A. wet B. met C. head D. hand

2. A. girl B. burn C. turn D. pearl

3. A. left B. debt C. fan D. dead

4. A. train B. tale C. mine D. rain

5. A. die B. bicycle C. high D. min

6. A. meet B. feed C. speed D. fit

7. A. limit B. lipid C. treat D. hit

8. A. curve B. term C. gear D. herm

9. A. truck B. drunk C. mug D. dark

10. A. sign B. light C. bye D. tin

Traffic congestion in many (1) .... around the world is severe. One possible solution to this (2) ... is to impose heavy taxes on car drivers and use this money to make public transport better. One of the first benefits of such a measure is that the heavy taxes would (3) ... car owners from using their cars because it would become very (4) ... to drive. This would mean that they would begin to make use of public (5) .. instead, thus reducing traffic problems and (6) ... as well. Another benefit would be that much more use would be made of public transport if it was improved. It is often the case that public transport in cities is very poor. For (7) ... , we often see old buses and (8) .... that people would rather not use. High taxes would generate enough money to make the necessary changes

16. It (rain)________________________ all summer, so the grass was completely dead.
17. When he (arrive)________________________ at the party, Julie had just left.
18. After arriving home, I realised I (buy)________________________ any milk.
19. The laundry was wet - it (rain)________________________ while I was out.
20. William felt ill last night because he (eat)________________________ too many cakes.
21. Keiko (meet)________________________ William last September.
22. First I tidied the flat, then I (sit)________________________ down and had a cup of coffee.
23. John (play)______________________ the piano when he was a child, but he doesn't play now.
24. When I opened the curtains the sun was shining and the ground was white. It
(snow)____________________during the night.
25. When Julie got home from her holiday, the flat was a mess. John (have)______________a party
 

Day of the Dead – Mexico

       Day of the Dead is celebrated on November 1 in Mexico, Ecuador, Guatemala and other parts of Central or South America. Families gather to pray to the souls of dead relatives, asking them to return for one night. People decorate altars in their homes and graveyards with food , candles, candy skulls and marigolds to welcome the souls back to Earth. Skeletons are displayed throughout cities, and people dressed as skeletons parade through the streets. Pan de los muertos (bread of the dead) is baked in the shape of skulls and crossbones, and a toy is hidden inside each loaf. The person who bites into the toy is said to have good luck. Day of the Dead is a time to celebrate and remember the lives of dead family members.

1.    Where and When is the Day of the Dead celebrated?

2.    What do families gather to pray for?

3.    What do people do to welcome the souls back to Earth?

4.    What is the custom with Pan de los muertos (bread of the dead)?

5.    What is the purpose of the Day of the Dead?