EPISODE 77
LEVEL A1.2/A2.1

 

 

READING COMPREHENSION 

 

EXAMS

John: Why don’t we go to the cinema tonight?

Mark: I can’t. I’m taking an exam tomorrow ( = If you take an exam, you answer some exam questions). I have to study. If I don’t learn, I will fail this exam( = I will get a 2).

John: Don’t worry. I have sat so many exams since I started university in 2010 ( = if you sit an exam, you answer some exam questions), I can promise you you will pass ( = you get a 3, a 4 or a 5) if you relax a little bit.

Mark: I’m not so sure. My biology professor ( = the most important teacher at university) is the strictest teacher in the world, the questions will be very difficult. You know I need a good grade ( = a mark, a 2, 4, 5 etc). I need it if I want to get a scholarship ( = money which you will get if you are one of the best students) next year.

John: All right, good luck!

 

More contexts for the new words: 

  • He entered the sixth grade last year.
    (= He started his sixth year at this school)
  • He failed his biology exam and he will have to re-sit it next month.
    (= He failed his exam and he will have to take it once again)

 

EXERCISE 1 

Complete each sentence with one word.

 

  1. Sue managed to get a ………………………………….. at her university, so now she does not have to worry so much about money.
  2. Some university ………………………………….. are really scary, but most of them are just experts in their fields and excellent teachers.
  3. I’m going to ………………………………….. an important exam tomorrow. Wish me luck!
  4. Good luck! I hope you’ll ………………………………….. your exam.
  5. Unfortunately, Sam has ………………………………….. his exam. He did not know the answer to a single question!
  6. I failed my history exam in June, so I’ll have to study all the summer and ………………………………….. it in September.

 

EXERCISE 2 

Match the question halves, then answer the questions.

 

  1. Which university professor                    a. failed an exam? Why?
  2. How do you feel when you                     b. take an exam?
  3. Have you ever                                           c. was your favourite? Why?

 

 

ENGLISH IN USE  

Today  we will try to learn something about present perfect again!
If you say „I have sat many exams since 2004„, it means the action started in the past and lasts until now.

And here are some more examples:

I have known him since my birthday.
I have lived here since 1995.
I have been
here since my last holiday.

We use „since” when we think about something which is a point in time.

 

IDIOM CLOSE-UP 

A/ I’m taking an important exam tomorrow.
B/ BREAK A LEG!

When you say ‘break a leg,’ you want to wish somebody good luck.

 

 

PHRASAL VERBS CLOSE-UP

 

  1. When you CRIB something OFF, you copy the answers to a test or to your homework from your classmate, because you do not have them yourself.

I forgot to do my math homework. Can I crib it off from you?
You can be expelled from university for cribbing off at exams.

 

  1. When you BRUSH UP ON something, you revise and practise your skills or knowledge of something.

I took a class to brush up on my German before the trip.
He took the opportunity to brush up on various techniques of meditation.

 

EXERCISE 3 

Decide if the sentences below are true or false. Correct the false ones.

 

  1. When you brush up on a subject, you help a friend revise for an exam.
  2. Cribbing off is unethical.
  3. When you tell someone to break a leg, you wish them ill.

 

NEWS

 CHEATING

 

Polish universities are still fighting the plague of cheating, which is terrifyingly widespread among our students. Students in Poland seem to believe that their university time should primarily be devoted to partying, drinking beer and going out with friends, rather than solid work and studying. One professor has told us, “nowadays the majority of students are just good-for-nothing layabouts. And the deterioration is progressing year after year.” Do you agree?

 

GLOSSARY 

plague – serious problem

good-for-nothing – useless

layabouts – lazy people

deterioration – getting worse

 

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>>Answers

KEY TO EXERCISES  

Ex.1

  1. scholarship
  2. professors
  3. sit /take
  4. pass
  5. failed
  6. re-sit

 

Ex. 2

  1. c
  2. b
  3. a

 

Ex.3 

  1. False – you revise yourself.
  2. True.
  3. False – you wish them well.

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