reading practice

Stage 3 Test 1

We had a small party afterwards, just the four of us. Then Ray and Phil went home and Jenny and I were alone together. 'Jenny, we're really married!' 'Yes. Now I can be as terrible to you as I like!' For three years we had to make every dollar do the work of two. All through the summer holidays we worked at the Boat Club in Dennis Port. It                  iswaswerewill behard work, but we were never                  tootosoverytired to be kind to each                  another.us.one.other. I say 'kind' because there are                  noneknownonothingwords to describe our love and                  happyhappinesshappilyhappier together. After the summer we found                  atheanthat'cheap' flat near the university. It                  has beenhad beenwascould be on the top floor of an                  newoldbeautifulmodernhouse and was actually very expensive.                  SoAlthoughButBecausewhat could we do? There weren't                  muchmanysomelotsflats around. 'Hey, preppie,' said Jenny                  whenwhileduringatwe arrived there. 'Are you my                  brotherhusbandwifefatheror aren't you?' 'Of course I'm                  youyou'reyoursyourhusband.' 'Show me, then.' (My god,                  I'mII wasI'llthought, in the street?) 'Carry me                  intoinatontoour first home!' I carried her                  overhighupabovethe five steps to the front                  window.cupboard.door.desk. 'Why did you stop?' she asked.                  'These'This 'It'Theisn't our home. Upstairs Preppie!' There                  werewashaddidtwenty-four stairs up to our                  room,house,office,flat,and I had to stop half-way.                  'What'When'Why'Whereare you so heavy?' I asked                  she.her.him.he. 'Perhaps I'm expecting a baby.' 'My                  Dog!God!Bag!Dad!Are you?' 'Ha! I frightened you                  just,when,then,soon,didn't I?' 'Well, yes, just for                  aantheonesecond or two.' I carried her                  atothesomerest of the way. There were                  someverynotmanyfew moments in those days when                  sheusweourwere not worrying about money. Very                  little,small,many,few, and very wonderful – and that moment                  washas beeniswill beone of them.

"If" sentences

There are four main types of if sentences in English, often called conditional sentences.

These sentences are in two halves, with the if part in one half and the other part where you can use words such ascan, will, may, might, could and would.

If + present form + present form

"If you heat ice, it melts."

In this type of sentence, you could use when instead of if. It's always true that when you heat ice it melts. This is why this type of sentence is sometimes called a zero conditional.

If + present form, + will, can or may

"If I am late, I will call you."

"If you need me, you can call me at home."

"If it gets any hotter, we may have a thunder storm."

In these sentences (or first conditional sentences), there is a strong possibility that the first part (coming after if) is going to happen. The second part says what will happen as a result.

If + past form + would, could or might

"If I got a pay rise, I would buy a new car."

"If you left your job, you could travel around the world."

"If you were nicer to him, he might lend you the money."

In these sentences, the first part with if shows that the event is unlikely to happen. In English, we often use this type of sentence (called a second conditional) to talk about hypotheses, or imaginary future events.

For example, "If I was President of the United States, I would change some laws." But I know that I'll never be the President of the USA – I'm just saying what I would do if I was in his/her position. Note: in American English, it is correct to use "if I were…" In British English, it's more common to say "if I was…"

If + past perfect + would/might/could have done

"If I had revised, I would have passed my exams."

"If we had gone out earlier, we might have got to the cinema on time."

"If you had told me there was a problem, I could have helped."

In these sentences (or third conditional sentences), the first part of the sentence with if didn't happen. So there is no possibility of the second part of the sentence happening. I didn't revise, so I didn't pass my exams and there is nothing I can do about it now. English speakers use this type of sentence to show how things could have been different.

Modal auxiliary verbs in English

In English, you can show what you feel about a situation by using words such as may, will, would, might, can and could.

These words can change the meaning of a sentence and show that something is possible, necessary, uncertain, or intended.

"For example, "I'll go shopping tomorrow" shows that you intend to go tomorrow.

"I might go shopping tomorrow" shows that perhaps you will go tomorrow, but you don't know for sure.

Grammar rules for using modal auxiliary verbs

* They are followed by the verb without to.

* You don't need an 's' for the third person singular: "He might come to the party." (Not "he mights come to the party".)

* You can make a question by putting the word before the person, not by using 'do' or 'have':
"Could you help me?" (Not "do you could help me?")

* You can make a negative form by adding a form of not to the word:

can becomes can't

will becomes won't

might becomes might not (or mightn't)
may becomes may not

could becomes couldn't.

How possible something is

"The company might relocate next year."

"We may have to wait an hour for dinner in this restaurant."

"It can get very cold here in winter."

"We could all live to be 100 years old in theory."

How certain something is

"She'll get promoted next year."

"He won't agree to that idea."

"You must be our new neighbour."

"If you left now, you would get the train."

Offers and requests

"Shall I open the door for you?"

"I'll cook dinner, if you like."

"Could you help me?"

"Can you pass me the salt, please?"

Permission

"Can I open the window, please?"

"You may now look at your exam papers." (This is formal.)

Ability

"I can cook, but I can't drive."

"I couldn't speak French very well when I was at school."

Using should, must and need

These words help you to talk about rules, obligation and advice.

Should

We use should to give advice.

"If you want to learn English, you should practise as much as possible."

We can also use should to talk about what we expect to happen.

"He should be here by now – he left over an hour ago."

The negative of should is shouldn't.

"You shouldn't eat so much chocolate – it's bad for you."

Must

We use must to talk about obligation.

"I must call my grandmother today – it's her birthday."

If you want to say the opposite – that there is no obligation to do something, use don't have to or don't need to.

"You don't have to wash the car – I'll do it."

"You don't need to put the rubbish out – I've already done it."

We can also use must to talk about what we think is logically certain.

"You must be tired after all that travelling."

If you want to say that something is logically impossible, use can't.

"Who's that at the door? It can't be the postman – he's already been."

Mustn't means that it is not allowed to do something.

"You mustn't feed animals in the zoo – it's not allowed."

Should have done

Look at this example dialogue:

"You know… my car was broken into yesterday."

"How terrible. What did you do?"

"Oh, nothing."

"You should have called the police."

We use the pattern should have done to talk about what we think would have been the best thing to do. However, the past event we are talking about cannot be changed. So the pattern after should is have done – not should do.

In the example dialogue, the person didn't contact the police yesterday (in the past), so you can't change the situation. You can only say what action would have been the best in this situation.

Interviews 5: Vocabulary check

There are lots of expressions using the word 'career' that you might come across. The following nouns all make word partners with career.

career plancareer ladder

career breakcareer move

career prospects

Match them with their meanings.

1. Chances of future success in your career
2. The direction you hope your career will take
3. A change you make in order to progress
4. Time when you are not employed, perhaps when travelling or looking after children
5. A series of promotions towards more senior positions

Answer

1. Chances of future success in your career - C. career prospects
2. The direction you hope your career will take - E. career plan
3. A change you make in order to progress - A. careermove
4. Time when you are not employed, perhaps when travelling or looking after children - B. career break
5. A series of promotions towards more senior positions - D. career ladder

A. career move
B. career break
C. career prospects
D. career ladder
E. career plan
A. colleagues

Interviews 3: FAQs

During the interview, always be positive about your previous experiences. Never offer negative information! Instead, sell yourself using active, positive words. In the exercise below, match words from the left to the right to make 'power phrases'.

Click here if you can't use Flash, or want to print out the exercise

Responding positively

Match the words on the left to the words on the right to make 'power phrases' for interviews. (NOTE: words on the right can't be used twice)

1. showing
2. presenting
3. solving
4. controlling
5. achieving
6. motivating
7. meeting
8. creating

A. colleagues
B. initiative
C. ideas
D. objectives
E. deadlines
F. budgets
G. problems
H. information

Answer

1. showing initiative (B)
2. presenting information (H)
3. solving problems (G)
4. controlling budgets (F)
5. achieving objectives (D)
6. motivating colleagues (A)
7. meeting deadlines (E)
8. creating ideas (C)

Vocabulary

power phrases
strong expressions that show how good you are at what you do

colleagues
the people you work with

objectives 
aims, goals

Interviews 2: Interview tips

How you look and behave at an interview can sometimes be even more important than what you say! There are lots of things you can do to make a good impression on interviewers. Here are some tips relating to your appearance and body language.

Vocabulary

logos
pictures or designs which symbolise a particular company.

designer names
famous and expensive fashion brands

eye contact
when you look at someone directly in the eyes

fidget
to make small movements with your hands or feet, especially if you are bored or nervous

Interviews 1: preparing for the interview

Interviews can be nerve-wracking and preparation is very important. You will be better equipped to answer questions and you will walk in to the interview feeling more confident. Here are some tips for preparing for an interview. Read the text below and select the best option from the drop-down menu of words.

If you have  ---- gained reached arrived achieved  the interview stage, your CV and letter of application must have been  ---- effective important impressive significant ! The company now wants to know more about you. But there is still more work to do if you want to get that job! Make sure you have  ---- researched discovered inquired examined  the company as thoroughly as possible - use the Internet, company reports, recruitment literature etc.  ---- remember remind imagine summarise  yourself of why you applied to this company. Make a list of the skills, experience, and interests you can ---- show present offer demonstrate  the organisation. Finally, try to  ---- ask suggest give predict  the questions you will be expected to answer - imagine you are the interviewer!

Vocabulary

nerve-wracking 
it makes you feel nervous, scared

impressive 
admirable

effective
to do what is meant to be done well

researched 
found out a lot of information about something

demonstrate
show

to predict 
to guess

What's next?

Interviews 2: Interview tips

Covering Letters 5: Style (part 2)

to

of

under

in

for

I would like to apply

for

the position 

of

If you would like to discuss this

in

more detail

I enjoy working

under

pressure

I was

in

charge 

of

I was responsible

for

With reference

to

Covering Letters 2: Useful phrases

Dear Mr Saleh,

I am writing to   ---- apply ask request  for the position of Editorial Assistant which was   ---- shown advertised presented  in the latest edition of Gulf News.

I am currently   ---- worked employed used  by a Market Research company as a research assistant, but am keen to   ---- want pursue take  a career in publishing, because I enjoy reading and write my own poetry.

As you will notice on the   ---- included mentioned attached  CV, I graduated in European Literature. At University I gained considerable   ---- experiment expression experience  working on the student magazine, so I am   ---- familiarised familier familiar  with editing techniques. I work well under   ---- anxiety demands pressure  and enjoy working in a team. In addition, I speak English  ---- excellently fluently strongly .

I would be   ---- available around accessible  for interview from next week. Meanwhile, please do not   ---- hesitate wait stop  to contact me if you require further information.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely,

Margaret Roan

Vocabulary

advertised
made known to people

to apply
to ask in a formal way to be considered for a job

to pursue
to have, to chase, to follow

to work well under pressure
to be able to keep calm and do a good job in difficult situations

Jobsearch 2: Describing ability

• Hamed has a can-do attitude and is able to meet deadlines
• Tomoko is a self-starter who can work on her own initiative
• Ivan is able to multi-task and has a proven track record
• Li is an effective team player with a customer-focused approach
• Cristina is numerate and computer literate

which candidate...

is good with figures?  ---- Hamed Tomoko Ivan Li Cristina 

co-operates with colleagues?  ---- Hamed Tomoko Ivan Li Cristina 

is good at working on his/her own?  ---- Hamed Tomoko Ivan Li Cristina 

can finish a job on time?  ---- Hamed Tomoko Ivan Li Cristina 

has a good rapport with clients?  ---- Hamed Tomoko Ivan Li Cristina 

has a history of success?  ---- Hamed Tomoko Ivan Li Cristina 

has a positive approach?  ---- Hamed Tomoko Ivan Li Cristina 

has IT skills?  ---- Hamed Tomoko Ivan Li Cristina 

can cope with several jobs at the same time?  ---- Hamed Tomoko Ivan Li Cristina 

Vocabulary

human resources manager
someone who employs people for a firm, also known as a personnel manager

deadlines
the dates or times when certain tasks must be completed

to work on your own initiative
to make decisions about your work without having to wait for someone else to help you

to multi-task
to do more than one piece of work at a time

a proven track record
evidence you've been successful in the past in your area of work

What's next?

Jobsearch 3: Company departments

Jobsearch 4: Selection (part 1)

• Firstly, a vacancy is advertised
• and suitable candidates are invited for interview.
• These are sorted
• and applications are received.
• and applicants are interviewed.
• After that, a final short list is drawn up.
• Next, appointments are arranged
• A job offer is made to the successful candidate,
• and one of them is selected.
• and finally, an employment contract is signed.
• The candidates on the list are interviewed again,

Firstly, a vacancy is advertised and applications are received. These are sorted and suitable candidates are invited for interview.
Next, appointments are arranged and applicants are interviewed. After that, a final short list is drawn up.
The candidates on the list are interviewed again, and one of them is selected A job offer is made to the successful candidate, and finally, an employment contract is signed.

Vocabulary

sorted 
arranged in a particular order, e.g. putting the best CVs together

a short list
a list containing the names of the most suitable people

appointments
dates and times when people will meet, but can also be used to mean that people have been given particular jobs

a job offer
a formal request asking that someone accepts a job

an employment contract
a formal, legal agreement setting out what will be provided by both the employer and the employe

Jobsearch 3: Company departments

Company departments

Which department does which job? Match each job from the column on the left to a company department from the column on the right.

1. puts the product into boxes?
2. pays wages and salaries?
3. plans how to promote products?
4. has systems to prevent mistakes?
5. looks after the equipment?
6. deals with complaints?
7. manufactures the products?
8. sends invoices to customers?
9. buys equipment?
10. arranges credit facilities?
11. helps staff develop new skills?
12. sends products to the customer?
13. buys media space?
14. recruits new staff?
15. sends representatives to visit customers?

Answer

1. puts the product into boxes? - F. Packaging
2. pays wages and salaries? - I. Payroll
3. plans how to promote products? - C. Marketing
4. has systems to prevent mistakes? - M. Quality
5. looks after the equipment? - O. Maintenance
6. deals with complaints? - K. Customer Service
7. manufactures the products? - B. Production
8. sends invoices to customers? - H. Accounts
9. buys equipment? - D. Purchasing
10. arranges credit facilities? - L. Financial Services
11. helps staff develop new skills? - A. Training
12. sends products to the customer? - J. Distribution
13. buys media space? - N. Advertising
14. recruits new staff? - E. Personnel
15. sends representatives to visit customers? - G. Sales

A. Training
B. Production
C. Marketing
D. Purchasing
E. Personnel
F. Packaging
G. Sales
H. Accounts
I. Payroll
J. Distribution
K. Customer Service
L. Financial Services
M. Quality
N. Advertising
O. Maintenance

Jobsearch 1: Where to look

Most jobs are advertised as current   ----  position  application  vacancies . They appear in the local and national   ----  press  bodies  resource , trade   ----  contacts  journals  resource , and specialist career publications. In addition, many professional   ----  bodies  contacts  agency  offer an appointments service which can help job seekers find a suitable   ----  position  application  vacancies  in a particular   ----  industry  ladder  schemes . Recruitment   ----  bodies  contacts  agencies  hold details of a wide range of vacancies, and possibly local training   ----  industry  ladder  schemes . The Internet is a valuable   ----  press  journals  resource  - not only for vacancies but to find background information on companies.

Approximately one third of jobs are never advertised, but may be found by approaching a company directly. This is called a speculative   ----  position  application  vacancies , and is common among students starting at the bottom of the career   ----  industry  ladder  schemes .

Finally, don't forget to use your personal   ----  bodies  contacts  agencies !

Vocabulary

resources
things and people which can provide useful information

vacancies
jobs that no-one is doing that someone is needed to do

position
job, post

bodies
organisations

recruitment agencies
companies which have details of jobs and details of the people who might want them

practice exam

Task 1 (About 10 minutes)

Your college gives financial assistance to some students to help them pay for books and other equipment
that they need for their studies. You applied for this financial help but your application was not successful.
You have decided to appeal against this decision.

Complete the form.

Write about 80 words.

Appeal form: financial support for books and equipment

We only have limited funds for book and equipment grants and we cannot accept all applications.
However, we consider all appeals.


Please give details of the course you are doing, the books and equipment you need and why you
feel we should accept your application.

(Write in sentences.)

I received the letter from you to explain me why my application was failed.

I already red the letter and I don't understand why you don't considered me situation, I am a family women 
I work half time for living so all my incomes there are not enough .
I am studying  a nursery  course at the college, three times a week in the morning. These course 
is too expensive, for my practice I really need the books and equipments , but for me is not possible buy that things.
Please if is possible you considered my application again.



Task 2 (About 25 minutes)

You receive this letter asking for a reference about your friend, Rina.



Ms Rina Kimar has applied to do voluntary work in our second-hand books and clothes shop in Yeading
Road. We are a national charity which raises money for elderly people. Volunteers advise customers,
work on the cash desk and organise stock.

Rina has given your name as a referee. Please could you tell us:
• how well you know her
• what she is like as a person
• why you think she is suitable for this position.

I look forward to hearing from you.
Arthur Bell
Mr Arthur Bell
Head of Volunteer Recruitment


Write a letter of reference.

Write about 140 words. You do not need to write the address or the date

Dear Arthur Bell,

 I know Rina Kimar  for a long time, in fact we  was study  together the primary school  so I know very good how is her also we are very good friends all this time.

She is enthusiastic person and very responsible in her things.Furthermore  she all the time like to learn new
things. Rina is a person that you can trust as friend or as person.
 
In my opinion she is a perfect person for that place , she is a 100% dependable .  Because she demonstrated.

Now she want to have experience in this kind of job because her ambition for the future is work in a big store for example In Primark in Oxford or maybe in John Lewis in Leicester Square.

I hope my letter can help you for you decision.

Yours sincerely.
Elena






  

Nursing exercises

Stage 2 Test 1

Jennifer looked at the clock on the waiting-room wall. Nearly half-past eight. The light was still on in Doctor Gibson's room. I'm going to be late, she said to herself, why doesn't he hurry up? The evening surgery was always busy on Thursdays but tonight was worse than usual.                  HeSheTheyItquickly put the newspapers in a                  wardrobe.shelf.cupboard.table.Then she took off her white                  glovesshoestrouserscoatand locked it in the cupboard                  to.too.two.together. She was turning off the lights                  wherewhilewhenwhatsomeone rang the front doorbell. Oh                  no,not,yes,well,not another patient, not at this                  day.minute.hour.month. She ran to the door and                  openopeningopenlyopenedit. Outside it was dark but                  hersheheherscould see a man, his hands                  deeplowdownunderin his pockets. He moved his                  heartheadbackears and the light fell on his                  fork.flower.finger.face. 'Richard!' she cried in surprise. 'What                  ishavearewereyou doing here?' 'Can I come                  oninattofor a minute?' He did not                  waitedwaitingwaiterwait for an answer but pushed past                  hershehershimand went inside. Jennifer turned to                  he.his.him.her.She was usually pleased when Richard                  shouted,cried,called,asked, but this was the wrong time.                  'I'I'm'Im'Itssorry, but you can't stay. I                  couldwouldmightmusthurry. I'm meeting my friend Claire                  attoforofdinner and . . .' She stopped. It was                  RichardRichardsRichard isRichard'seyes - they looked tired and worried.                  'Which's'What's'Who's'Where'sthe matter?' she asked. Just then                  MrMrsDrMsGibson called from his room. 'Did                  II'mittheyhear the doorbell, Nurse? Was it                  otheranothermoreanpatient?' 'No, it's only my brother                  him,'that,'it,'Richard,'she called back. She turned back                  atforfromtoRichard. 'Is something wrong?' she asked                  another.more.again.before. He shook his head. 'I'm fine,'                  heshetheyitsaid. 'It's just . . . well, I had some trouble at work.' 'Trouble?' 'It was nothing really. I said something to my boss and he didn't like it. He got angry with me and . . . and in the end he told me to go. So I've lost my job.'