Skills Test Test B

Name: ___________________________________________

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.

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1 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

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Task.
1. He (see) …………………………….his cousin next Friday.
2. ………………….(Kathy/call) you yet?
3. Laura and Adam …………………… (be) classmates for 10 years .
4. When …………………(he/finish) solving this Maths problem?- 5 minutes ago.
5. He said he was very tired because he .............................................. (study) for the test for 3
hours.
6. If I were you, I………………………………………….…..(go through) the task once again.
7. If she (not/hurry)………………………….., she will miss her plane.
8. I ………………………(study) all day. Look! I ………………(already/solve) 3 Chemistry
problems and ....................(write) 2 essays.
9. He will arrange the meeting if you (ask) ……………………him.
10. He said he (not/hear) ……………………from David since June.
11. Ernestas ……………………….(win) 3 international Olympiads since he entered this school.
12. If Matas knew your address, he ……………………………..(not/ask) you.
13. We ...................................(be) really busy recently.
14. You know, the situation …………………………………………….….(get) more and more
difficult.
15. If you wash the dishes in the morning, you……………………(not/have) to do it in the
evening.
16. When I came, the report ...............................(already/analyse) .
17. If Mantas ……………………….(not/phone) in next 10 minutes, we’ll have to go without him.
18. Great idea! I ........................(put) it down into my notebook.
19. If I had more information, I ..........................(tell) you.
20. He (not/go) ...............................on that awful trip if he didn’t have to.

Task. 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
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have found / found / had found a few really strange and funny American laws, and, just in case
you’re feeling down  in the mouth and need cheering up, we’ve decided to share them with you. Here
they are!
1 In Utah, you 4shouldn’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 5took / have taken / had taken a bath.
However, on Sundays, it’s illegal to take a bath!
3 In Illinois you 6mustn’t / don’t have to / might not give a cigarette to any of your pets. It’s not
allowed! Of course, if you cared 7about / of / over your pets, you wouldn’t do that anyway!

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Discuss:

SPEED DATING

1. What is your favorite color and why?

2. How would you describe each other in 3 words?
3. What do you prefer: calling or texting? Why?
4. What household chore do you like/hate most?
5. Do you prefer indoors or outdoors?
6. Are you a morning bird or night owl?
7. Would you travel to the past or the future?
8. If you had to describe your music taste in 3 words, what would those words be?
9. What do you do on a typical Sunday?
10. Do you think soulmates exist?
11. Can a boy and a girl be best friends?
12. What superpower would you like to have?
13. Which superhero would you most like to be?
14. Which celebrity do you like/ hate most?
15. What was your biggest dream as a child?
16. Are you a book or a movie person?
17. If you were a product, what would your tagline be?
18. Are you an adventurous or a picky eater?
19. Which musical instrument would you like to learn to play?
20. What Disney character would you most want to be?
21. Do you have a nickname?
22. What is your favorite smell?
23. How do you wake yourself up in the morning?
24. What is your favorite place to eat?
25. What is your favorite movie genre? Why?
26. What is your favorite time of a day?
27. Who is your favorite TV show character?
28. How do you imagine your future in about 25 years? 
29. What are some little things that bring happiness into your everyday life?