Skills Test Unit 5 Test B

Name: ___________________________________________

Everyday English
1 Circle the incorrect response.
1 Don’t let it happen again.
a I’m very sorry. b Please forgive me. c Don’t worry about it.
2 I’m so sorry.
a Don’t worry about it. b I regret to inform you. c It really doesn’t matter.
3 I’m sorry. It was very inconsiderate of me.
a You didn’t mean to do that. b You’ve really let me down. c I didn’t expect that from you.
4 I feel very bad about what I did.
a That’s OK. b I didn’t mean to. c Never mind.
5 Please accept our apologies.
a That’s quite all right. b Let’s say no more about it. c Never mind.

Mark: ___ / 5

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Listening
2  Listen to Robin and Susie discuss cyber-bullying on a radio news programme. Circle the
three topics they talk about.
A How cyber-bullying has affected the workplace.
B The different kinds of cyber-bullying that take place.
C The effects of cyber-bullying on victims.
D The consequences of cyber-bullying for bullies.
E What schools are doing to stop cyber-bullying.

3  Listen again. Are the sentences true (T) or false (F)?

1 According to Robin, cyber-bullying happens to over 50% of teenagers every day. ___
2 Susie mentions writing something negative in a text or email as examples of cyber-bullying. ___
3 Susie describes impersonating someone online as a more serious example of cyber-bullying.
___
4 Susie says that a majority of young people won’t tell their mum and dad if they are the victim of
cyber-bullying. ___
5 Robin says that cyber-bullies usually understand how serious it is to commit their offences. ___
6 Susie says that if you’re a cyber-bully, you won’t find a job in the future. ___
7 Susie says that a cyber-bully’s parents as well as the cyber-bully may face legal action if they
commit this crime. ___

Mark: ___ / 10

2
Reading
Making vandals pay
In South Australia, the local government is reviewing the laws governing graffiti and is trying to
come up with ideas about how to punish young vandals more effectively. Currently, people under
eighteen don’t have to pay costs for any damage they cause and courts are very reluctant to send
them to prison for what is considered a minor offence. Consequently, many young offenders escape
punishment and go on to commit further crimes. The government has to find a solution, but isn’t sure
what that might be.
The police force in the area has suggested making offenders pay compensation. The idea is that if a
young person spray-paints a wall, he or she will be responsible for the cleaning bill, and will have to
pay it sooner or later. This plan gets round the problem that many young vandals aren’t earning any
money. They won’t have to pay the compensation immediately. However, if they get a job or start
claiming benefits, the government will subtract money from their income to cover the costs of
cleaning up the walls they’ve vandalized.
While a majority of people in the community welcome the idea, there are some experts who aren’t
sure that it is either fair or practical. A legal advisor to the government is worried that it would be
impossible to start subtracting money from people’s wages unless the tax authority was involved, and
this could prove costly and complicated. If the amount of money owed by the vandal was less than it
cost to take the money out his or her pay packet, then what would be the point of forcing the offender
to pay for the crime?
A spokesperson for youth support groups has also criticized the plan. She argues that a majority of
young people who cover walls with graffiti won’t be put off by being told to pay for their crime. In
her opinion, young offenders commit these crimes because they are bored or angry with society, or
because they are part of gangs, so they simply don’t think of the consequences. As a result, she
believes that introducing a payback scheme won’t reduce the number of crimes. In contrast, she
proposes a scheme in which vandals have to clean up their graffiti themselves and meet members of
the public who have been affected by their vandalism. She argues that if we educate young people to
understand the consequences of their actions, they will stop committing crimes.
The last word goes to one of the leading politicians in South Australia’s government. He admits that
the amount of graffiti is unlikely to go down if the government forces criminals to pay compensation.
However, he points out that the cost to the tax payer of cleaning up graffiti is huge, and that forcing
criminals to foot the bill has to be a good thing.

3
4 Read the text. Circle the correct answers.
1 South Australia’s government wants to change
a the way that vandals pay costs in court.
b the minor offence of vandalism to a more serious offence.
c the way they punish young vandals.
d the time it takes to catch young vandals.
2 According to the police in the area, young vandals should
a always go to prison if they commit an offence.
b be financially responsible for the damage they cause.
c earn money for cleaning up all the mess they make.
d immediately pay the cleaning bill when they use spray paint.
3 If the tax authority has to take money out of a vandal’s wages,
a it might be an expensive thing to do.
b it will undoubtedly be impossible to do.
c it will make the process much easier.
d they won’t be able to get all the money.
4 The spokesperson for youth support groups believes vandals commit these crimes
a because vandalism is a minor offence.
b as a result of poor education.
c because they are bored.
d because they are creative.
5 The leading politician thinks that if they accept the police’s plan, it will
a improve the vandals’ behaviour.
b stop vandals covering walls with graffiti.
c force vandals to understand their actions.
d reduce the cost of cleaning up the graffiti.

Mark: ___ / 10

4
Writing
5 Read the newspaper story. Then write a letter to the newspaper expressing your views on
the proposed scheme.

‘MOSQUITO’ PLAN
The local shopping centre plans to introduce a
‘mosquito’ in the central square where local
youths meet in the evening. This is an electronic
device that makes a horrible, high-pitched noise
which only teenagers can hear, and which makes
them feel sick. If the mosquito is introduced,
teenagers won’t be able to sit in the square and
will have to go somewhere else.

Write your letter. Use the plan to help you.

Paragraph 1: Say why you are writing and express your opinion.

Paragraph 2: Explain the reason for your opinion and show you understand the problem and its
cause.
Paragraph 3: Present the first suggestion and result.

Paragraph 4: Make another suggestion and give a possible result.

Paragraph 5: Add a final point. Conclude by summarizing your opinion and sign off appropriately.

Mark: ___ / 15
TOTAL MARKS: ___ / 40

5
Challenge!
6 Read the text. Circle the correct option.
Unusual laws
If we 1won’t have / didn’t have / wouldn’t have laws, there would be chaos. In my 2view / point /
reckon, a legal system is essential. However, governments have passed so many laws over the years
that it isn’t surprising that some of them are really crazy. While we were surfing the internet, we
3
have found / found / had found a few really strange and funny American laws, and, just in case
you’re feeling 4down / below / under in the mouth and need cheering up, we’ve decided to share
them with you. Here they are!
1 In Utah, you 5shouldn’t / mustn’t / don’t have to walk down the street carrying a violin in a
paper bag. It’s illegal!
2 In Massachusetts, it’s illegal to go to bed before you 6took / have taken / had taken a bath.
However, on Sundays, it’s illegal to take a bath!
3 In Illinois you 7mustn’t / don’t have to / might not give a cigarette to any of your pets. It’s not
allowed! Of course, if you cared 8about / of / over your pets, you wouldn’t do that anyway!