Reading - HA1

Many brothers are very different from each other, but people think twins are exactly the same. In fact, my twin brother Sam and I are very different. It’s hard to believe we come from the same family!

Which of the following statements is TRUE?

Sam lives in a small village and he’s an actor. He also teaches drama students at university, because he doesn’t have a lot of money.

What does Sam do to earn more money?

My life is very different. I’m the businessman in the family. I have a small tech start-up company. I work from home, from my flat near the city centre.

Where does the author live?

Our day-to-day life is very different. I get up early, usually for video calls with business partners in Asia. Sam gets up at about eleven. After that, he studies Chinese for an hour. He loves languages.

Why does the author usually get up early?

Sam is a vegetarian and he cooks at home for himself. I don’t have time to cook, I go out a lot to local restaurants with friends. Sometimes Sam visits me in the city, and we go and listen to music somewhere.

What do the author and Sam sometimes do together?

The great thing is that Sam and I are really good friends and we often do things together. It’s funny when we are out together. People see us and say, ‘Wow, am I seeing double?’ I think this is probably normal for all twins.

Which of the following statements is TRUE?

Let me tell you about my family. My parents’ names are Patsy and Vince. They live about an hour from me. I have two sisters, and they live near my parents. My sisters’ names are Marcella and Greta.

How many children do the author’s parents have?

My sisters’ names are Marcella and Greta. Greta’s a lawyer and she isn’t married. Marcella’s a teacher. She teaches at the local school. She’s married and has one child. Her husband’s name is Marcel. (I know, it’s funny, but it’s true!).

Who is Marcel?

Remember mood rings, the rings that change colour with your feelings? My ring is a present from my grandmother and I wear it every day. It’s a simple ring with a coloured stone. The colour of the stone shows my feelings at that moment.

Which of the following statements is TRUE?

She’s a lawyer. She gets up at 7 a.m. every day. She has breakfast and then goes to work. She often works late (sometimes until 9 p.m.!), but not on Thursdays. She has a Spanish class on Thursday evenings. She studies Spanish because her boyfriend is from Argentina.

Why does she study Spanish?

My life is very different. I’m the businessman in the family. I have a small tech start-up company. I work from home, from my flat near the city centre.

Who does the writer work for?

Sam is a vegetarian and he cooks at home for himself. I don’t have time to cook, I go out a lot to local restaurants with friends. Sometimes Sam visits me in the city, and we go and listen to music somewhere.

According to the passage, which statement is FALSE?

Many brothers are very different from each other, but people think twins are exactly the same. In fact, my twin brother Sam and I are very different. It’s hard to believe we come from the same family.

According to the passage, which statement is TRUE?

Hi! My name’s Frank Bacall and I’m a travel writer. I’m from Cape Town in South Africa. I love my job because I go to lots of different countries. I often visit Thailand, France and the USA. I love to meet people and learn languages.

Where is he from?

Hi! My name’s Frank Bacall and I’m a travel writer. I’m from Cape Town in South Africa. I love my job because I go to lots of different countries. I often visit Thailand, France and the USA. I love to meet people and learn languages.

According to the passage, which statement is TRUE?

I often visit Thailand, France and the USA. I love to meet people and learn languages. I speak Spanish, Portuguese and a little Thai. I’m interested in sport, too. I play tennis and badminton.

According to the passage, how many languages does the writer speak?

My brother is a nurse and he works at a hospital in our city. He starts work at 10 a.m. every day and finishes at 9 p.m. On Saturdays, when he isn’t at the hospital, he eats lunch at a café with friends.

Where does his brother work?

My best friend is a lawyer. She gets up at 7 a.m. everyday. She has breakfast and then goes to work. She often works late (sometimes until 9 p.m.), but not on Thursdays. She has a Spanish class on Thursday evenings.

She doesn’t work late on Thursdays because ______

Phone messages between Lisa and Eva:

Lisa: Hi, how are things?

Eva: I’m all right, thanks. You?

Lisa: I’m bored. Do you want to do something today?

Eva: Sorry, I can’t. Busy day at the restaurant. I feel really tired. What about tomorrow morning?

What does Lisa suggest doing?

Tin nhắn điện thoại giữa Lisa và Eva:
Lisa: Mình chán quá. Hôm nay bạn có muốn làm gì đó không?
Eva: Xin lỗi, mình không thể. Hôm nay bận rộn ở nhà hàng. Mình cảm thấy rất mệt. Sáng mai thì sao?
Lisa: Được. Chúng ta có thể gặp nhau uống cà phê không?
Eva: Chắc chắn rồi. Ở đâu?
Lisa: Let’s try that new café near me, Coffee Club.
Where will they meet?

My friend Emma is an interesting person. She’s Mexican, but now she lives in Berlin. She is married to Stefan and he is from Germany. They have two children called Evan and Sophia. Evan is six years old and Sophia is four years old. Emma’s family is quite international. Her mother is Mexican and her father is American so Emma speaks Spanish and English fluently. Also, she speaks some German. She goes to German classes in the evenings and she practises with her husband and her children every day. Emma is a digital designer. She likes her job because she works with lots of people around the world. Emma doesn’t work in an office; she works from home. Emma gets up early and works in the mornings when her children are at school. Sometimes she works in the evenings, but she doesn’t work at weekends.

Where does Emma come from?

My friend Emma is an interesting person. She’s Mexican, but now she lives in Berlin. She is married to Stefan and he is from Germany. They have two children called Evan and Sophia. Evan is six years old and Sophia is four years old. Emma’s family is quite international. Her mother is Mexican and her father is American so Emma speaks Spanish and English fluently. Also, she speaks some German. She goes to German classes in the evenings and she practises with her husband and her children every day. Emma is a digital designer. She likes her job because she works with lots of people around the world. Emma doesn’t work in an office; she works from home. Emma gets up early and works in the mornings when her children are at school. Sometimes she works in the evenings, but she doesn’t work at weekends.

How many languages can Emma speak?

My friend Emma is an interesting person. She’s Mexican, but now she lives in Berlin. She is married to Stefan and he is from Germany. They have two children called Evan and Sophia. Evan is six years old and Sophia is four years old. Emma’s family is quite international. Her mother is Mexican and her father is American so Emma speaks Spanish and English fluently. Also, she speaks some German. She goes to German classes in the evenings and she practises with her husband and her children every day. Emma is a digital designer. She likes her job because she works with lots of people around the world. Emma doesn’t work in an office; she works from home. Emma gets up early and works in the mornings when her children are at school. Sometimes she works in the evenings, but she doesn’t work at weekends.

Where does Emma’s father come from?

My friend Emma is an interesting person. She’s Mexican, but now she lives in Berlin. She is married to Stefan and he is from Germany. They have two children called Evan and Sophia. Evan is six years old and Sophia is four years old. Emma’s family is quite international. Her mother is Mexican and her father is American so Emma speaks Spanish and English fluently. Also, she speaks some German. She goes to German classes in the evenings and she practises with her husband and her children every day. Emma is a digital designer. She likes her job because she works with lots of people around the world. Emma doesn’t work in an office; she works from home. Emma gets up early and works in the mornings when her children are at school. Sometimes she works in the evenings, but she doesn’t work at weekends.

What language does Emma study?

My friend Emma is an interesting person. She’s Mexican, but now she lives in Berlin. She is married to Stefan and he is from Germany. They have two children called Evan and Sophia. Evan is six years old and Sophia is four years old. Emma’s family is quite international. Her mother is Mexican and her father is American so Emma speaks Spanish and English fluently. Also, she speaks some German. She goes to German classes in the evenings and she practises with her husband and her children every day. Emma is a digital designer. She likes her job because she works with lots of people around the world. Emma doesn’t work in an office; she works from home. Emma gets up early and works in the mornings when her children are at school. Sometimes she works in the evenings, but she doesn’t work at weekends.

Where does Emma work?

The internet has hundreds of websites with thousands of photos of different types of food: cooking blogs, travel sites and social media sites with names like FoodSpotting, SnapDish, InstaFood and of course Instagram. One website has “rainbow food”: red, orange, yellow, green and other coloured food, all on one plate.

How many sites are named in the passage?

The internet has hundreds of websites with thousands of photos of different types of food: cooking blogs, travel sites and social media sites with names like FoodSpotting, SnapDish, InstaFood and of course Instagram. One website has “rainbow food”: red, orange, yellow, green and other coloured food, all on one plate.

Why is the food in one website called “rainbow food”?

There are websites about how to take a good photo of food: the most important thing is that the food is bright and colourful and looks delicious. Pasta or noodles always look good. Fruit juice is colourful and pink food is great in a photo.

According to the passage, which statement is TRUE?

Every year, the people of Okanogan County in Washington State, USA, have a fair to celebrate the end of summer. One of the big events is the Indian Relay Race, a tradition of American Indians. In the Indian Relay, each rider rides three different horses around the track.

What do people of Okanogan County do to celebrate the end of summer?

Every year, the people of Okanogan County in Washington State, USA, have a fair to celebrate the end of summer. One of the big events is the Indian Relay Race, a tradition of American Indians. In the Indian Relay, each rider rides three different horses around the track.

Which statement is TRUE about the Indian Relay Race?

In Quebec, we have a big festival every winter, the Quebec Winter Carnival. The city goes crazy! It’s really good fun and we have lots of things to see and do. I love looking at the ice sculptures. The artists often make ice animals and buildings.

What does the writer think of the Winter Carnival?

The Winter Carnival is really good fun and we have lots of things to see and do. I love looking at the ice sculptures. The artists often make ice animals and buildings. I always watch the canoe race. They race on the icy river and it’s very exciting. My favourite thing is the evening parade. I like watching it with my family.

Which activity does the writer like best in the Winter Carnival?

My favourite healthy food is Moqueca. It’s a fish soup that we eat here in the north of Brazil. You can buy it in other countries, but it’s not the same. It’s fish, red peppers, onions or other vegetables in a tomato sauce.

What is the main ingredient of Moqueca?

My favourite healthy food is a fruit salad. I make it with strawberries, melon and pears. I sometimes use oranges too, but when I don’t have any, I add a little bit of lemonade or sparkling water. It’s great on a hot day when I feel thirsty.

How many kinds of fruit does the writer usually use to make this fruit salad?

The race lasts 52 days, and people run from 6 a.m. until midnight, every day. Most people in the competition run about 100 km a day. They only have six hours to wash and sleep each day. They need to visit the doctor before they enter to check they are strong and healthy.

According to the passage, which statement is FALSE?

There are websites about how to take a good photo of food: the most important thing is that the food is bright and colourful and looks delicious. Pasta or noodles always look good. Fruit juice is colourful and pink food is great in a photo.

What does the passage say about pasta and noodles?

In Quebec, we have a big festival every winter, the Quebec Winter Carnival. The city goes crazy! It’s really good fun and we have lots of things to see and do. I love looking at the ice sculptures. The artists often make ice animals and buildings.

What are the ice sculptures often about?

The Winter Carnival is really good fun and we have lots of things to see and do. I love looking at the ice sculptures. The artists often make ice animals and buildings. I always watch the canoe race. They race on the icy river and it’s very exciting. My favourite thing is the evening parade. I like watching it with my family.

What do people do in the canoe race?

My favourite healthy food is Moqueca. It’s a fish soup that we eat here in the north of Brazil. You can buy it in other countries, but it’s not the same. It’s fish, red peppers, onions or other vegetables in a tomato sauce.

Which of the following food isn’t there in Moqueca?

My favourite healthy food is a fruit salad. I make it with strawberries, melon and pears. I sometimes use oranges too, but when I don’t have any, I add a little bit of lemonade or sparkling water. It’s great on a hot day when I feel thirsty.

What does the writer use in his fruit salad when there are no oranges?

The race lasts 52 days, and people run from 6 a.m. until midnight, every day. Most people in the competition run about 100 km a day. They only have six hours to wash and sleep each day. They need to visit the doctor before they enter to check they are strong and healthy.

Why do runners need to visit the doctor before they join the race?

My name is Darcey and I’m from Australia, but I live in the UK. I’m a student at university in Liverpool. I’m studying fashion design and I think it is very interesting subject. In the future, I want to work as a fashion designer in a large company, maybe in Singapore or Japan.

What nationality is Darcey?

My life in Liverpool is a little different from my life in Australia, but I like it. I have classes at university three days a week, on Monday morning, Tuesday morning and Thursday morning, so I get up early. On Wednesday and Friday, I get up late and study at home in my student flat or I go to the university library and study there.

When does the author have lessons at university?

My life in Liverpool is a little different from my life in Australia, but I like it. I have classes at university three days a week, on Monday morning, Tuesday morning and Thursday morning, so I get up early. On Wednesday and Friday, I get up late and study at home in my student flat or I go to the university library and study there.

What does the author do when he/she doesn’t have lessons at university?

I don’t spend time with my family because they live in Australia, but we often send messages and my parents and I always talk online on Saturday or Sunday. I check my messages and emails every day because my sister and my friends in Australia like sending me some pictures of their lives.

Why does the author check his messages and emails every day?

At weekends, I sometimes go to parties with my friends or we cook dinner together. We hardly ever go out to restaurants because they are expensive, but I like going for coffee or lunch with my friends. We usually go to cafés with student menus and we eat some pasta or rice dishes. I hardly ever go shopping because I do all my shopping online.
Darcey wants to work in ______.

At weekends, I sometimes go to parties with my friends or we cook dinner together. We hardly ever go out to restaurants because they are expensive, but I like going for coffee or lunch with my friends. We usually go to cafés with student menus and we eat some pasta or rice dishes. I hardly ever go shopping because I do all my shopping online.
She doesn’t have any classes on ______.

At weekends, I sometimes go to parties with my friends or we cook dinner together. We hardly ever go out to restaurants because they are expensive, but I like going for coffee or lunch with my friends. We usually go to cafés with student menus and we eat some pasta or rice dishes. I hardly ever go shopping because I do all my shopping online.
Darcey goes to the library when her friends ______.

At weekends, I sometimes go to parties with my friends or we cook dinner together. We hardly ever go out to restaurants because they are expensive, but I like going for coffee or lunch with my friends. We usually go to cafés with student menus and we eat some pasta or rice dishes. I hardly ever go shopping because I do all my shopping online.
At the weekend, Darcey chats to her ______.

At weekends, I sometimes go to parties with my friends or we cook dinner together. We hardly ever go out to restaurants because they are expensive, but I like going for coffee or lunch with my friends. We usually go to cafés with student menus and we eat some pasta or rice dishes. I hardly ever go shopping because I do all my shopping online.
Darcey and her friends don’t usually eat at restaurants because ______.