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Look at The Text in Each Question. Circle The Letter With The Correct Explanation - A, B or C

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
170 views17 pages

Look at The Text in Each Question. Circle The Letter With The Correct Explanation - A, B or C

Uploaded by

Marina Sc
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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TEACHER’S FILE iTEEN 9

PET

PET TEST 5 UNIT 5 – @ WORK

READING
PART 1

Look at the text in each question.


Circle the letter with the correct explanation – A, B or C.

1 A You can play here.


B You mustn’t play here.
C You must drive carefully. School zone.

2 A This place is being watched all day and all night.


B There are 24 cameras watching this place.
C Closed circuit TV cameras will be switched on for the
next 24 hours.

3 A Contact this number if you touch this water.


B Contact this number for more information.
C Contact this number if you want to swim here.

4 A You must phone your child when you pick him/her up.
B You mustn’t use your phone in this area.
C Your child must drop out of school.

5 A You can ride your bike in this area.


B You can’t ride your bike here.
C Only children can ride their bikes here.

6 A Dogs are not allowed while children are at school.


B Children will be grounded if they play with dogs.
C People can’t walk their dogs in the school premises.
PART 2

The people below have all applied for a job. There are six job adverts.
1
© Areal Editores
TEACHER’S FILE iTEEN 9
PET

Decide which advert (letters A – F) each candidate might have applied for (numbers 7 – 10).
For each of these numbers, circle the correct letter.

7 Peter was always good at Biology and Maths. He followed a career in Nursing. He is very hard-working
and responsible. He has worked in a children’s clinic but would like to work in a more challenging place.

8 Mary has always liked languages. She can speak English, her mother tongue, as well as French and
Italian. She has also been learning German. She has a degree in Tourism. She likes dealing with people.

9 Sharon is very creative and open-minded. She followed a vocational course of Graphic Design and then
took a degree in Marketing. She did a nine-month internship in an advertising company.

10 Claire has got a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a master’s degree in Careers Counselling. She has
had several jobs but would rather work with young people.

C B
Staff required for Trust Hospital
Medical officers
Advertisement (experience 3-5 years) – ICU/CCU trained
National Fund for Mohenjo-Daro invites doctors.
applications to employ on contract basis two tour Staff nurse (experience 1-2 years) – required
guides for the site, initially for a specific term of for floors and emergency.
one year. Please apply to
Trust Hospital
7th Avenue, 336
Birmingham B60

A
A leading neuropsychiatry-focused
pharmaceutical company urgently requires D

Psychologist Careers adviser


Private school is looking for a careers adviser
for students between 16 and 18.
Age: 30-40 We require experience of at least one year in

E F

Job opening Job opportunity


Clinic in Sussex has vacant positions for
Medical Officers and Nurses, to work in the
Pediatric Department. A prestigious outdoor advertisement company

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© Areal Editores
TEACHER’S FILE iTEEN 9
PET

PART 3

Look at the sentences.


Read the text to decide if each sentence is correct (C) or incorrect (I).
C I
11 Brad Pitt doesn’t see himself as an actor. ___ ___
12 He usually says he is an employee. ___ ___
13 It is difficult for a famous person to be humble. ___ ___
14 He wants to be seen as an artist. ___ ___
15 He wants to be more than an actor. ___ ___
16 He likes to be called a celebrity. ___ ___
17 According to the writer, he is an actor, but not a celebrity. ___ ___
18 Brad tries not to be defined by his occupation. ___ ___

BRAD PITT – A life so large


He does not call himself an actor. On forms, he lists his
occupation as self-employed. “I learned that from Bruce
Paltrow,” he says, referring to the father of his first famous
girlfriend. “I always liked it. It’s a humble way to describe
what we do.”
His answer shows how hard it is for a person as famous
as he is not to sound like one. In fact, he hesitates to identify
himself as an actor not for reasons of humility. He hesitates to
identify himself as an actor because he considers himself
primarily an artist, a doer, a maker, a craftsman, a man who
felt the first thrill of artifice not onstage but in high school workshop class, drawing up plans. He
hesitates to identify himself as an actor because he is more interested in leaving a legacy much
larger than the legacy of his performances. He likes the idea of being something more than an
actor and he likes the idea of being something less than an actor, and when you tell him that
you sometimes don’t look at him as an actor at all, he says, “That’s a great compliment. I
appreciate that, as long as…”
“As long as…?”
“Well, some people say that because they see me as a celebrity. And then I’d go,
Aaaaaaghhh…”
He is, of course, an actor. He is, of course, also a celebrity, which is what allows him to
reach for a life beyond acting and what allows him to be occasionally mocked for his efforts.
Indeed, his efforts to transcend acting – to transcend celebrity itself – are part of what makes
him a celebrity in the first place.
http://www.esquire.com/features/brad-pitt-cover-interview-0613 (abridged)

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© Areal Editores
TEACHER’S FILE iTEEN 9
PET

PART 4

Read this text about a teenager, Rosie, and her first summer job.
For each question, mark the correct letter – A, B or C.

PAID FUN
My two friends and I walked out of school talking about our final exams, which had just ended. Then we
decided to forget school and celebrate summer by going for an ice cream in the local restaurant, where
the waitress knew us by name and brought us our “usuals”. Then we saw the sign: STAFF NEEDED.
On our way out, we all grabbed a job application. I knew I would need some money, and the
restaurant was just a mile from my house so I could bike there. In the past, our group would meet at
least once a day to get ice cream; so everything would be exactly the same, except now we’d be paid!
We all started training the same day. It was hard at first but we got accustomed to it pretty quickly.
We served at the ice cream window, refilled the napkins, silverware, and condiments, and
occasionally got a few tables. I enjoyed working with my friends because we had fun and still managed
to get everything done. I worked every day except Sunday, and then I looked forward to Monday.
Nothing compares to receiving your first paycheck. I was happy when my boss placed it in my hand, but
instead of spending it immediately, I returned home and locked the money in my little safe. It sat there for two
weeks before I finally treated myself to dinner and a movie.
Before that summer, it was so easy for me to spend money, and I never hesitated to ask my parents
for more. After having a job, I realized how hard they actually work. From then on, I banked all my
paychecks and used my tips for fun. It felt good to finally help myself. My summer job definitely taught
me the value of a dollar and made me appreciate all that my parents have done for me.

http://www.teenink.com/nonfiction/all/article/7729/Paid-Fun/ (abridged) (This text is written in American English)

19 Rosie and her friends walked out of school talking about __________
A tests and marks. B a summer job. C plans for the future.
20 When they left the restaurant, they took __________
A their ice creams. B the menus. C some job applications.
21 Rosie was interested in working there because __________
A it wasn’t far from home. B she liked the place. C Both A and B
22 All the friends __________
A continued to meet at the B got the job. C got the job, except for
23 This summer job mixed
A work and fun. B work and food. C work and responsibility.
24 Rosie _________________ her first wage.
A saved most of B spent all C ave her parents
25 When you start working, get a better idea of the value of __________
A summer holidays. B money. C work.

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© Areal Editores
TEACHER’S FILE iTEEN 9
PET

PART 5

Read the text and choose the correct word for each space.
For each question, mark the correct letter A, B or C.

Volunteering
Happy Holidays! The holidays are the time to spread
joy, (26)_______ with families, and put a smile on
someone’s face. I’ve realized that the holidays are
also the perfect time to volunteer, so you can
(27)_______ that holiday cheer with not just your
own family, but also with a total stranger, or two, or
three.
This month, I volunteered in various holiday-related activities. First, I volunteered within my own
(28)_______, helping out with a Santa visit. My friend and I handed out cookies, juice and “reindeer food” to
kids and families. I also participated in the Letter for Santa program with the YMCA, where I (29)_______ as
“Santa” to children’s letters in which they asked Santa for presents. I told them they had been good children
and shared with their (30)_______, that they would surely get what they wanted.
Sure, it wasn’t exactly the most hands-on volunteering activity, but I learned a
(31)______ lesson: kids aren’t the typical stereotype that adults in society understand them to be.
Everybody assumes that every child nowadays wants the (32)_______ iPhone, video game, or
technology, but surprisingly, most of them asked for simple things, like a new stuffed animal to hug, or a
brother or sister to keep them (33)______.
Lastly, I volunteered with Promising Pages at a book drive, in which I handed books to children who
love to (34)_______, but can’t always buy one. It was heartwarming to watch kids’ eyes light up
(35)_______ they found the perfect book.
Volunteering is about putting a smile on someone else’s face, which, in turn, is so (36)_______. To
me, these experiences cannot be replaced by a (37)______ gift I find under my tree on Christmas
morning.
http://www.charlottevolunteer.org/?cat=52 (abridged)
(This text is written in American English.)

26 A connect B deal C agree


27 A get B share C give
28 A house B neighborhood C street
29 A answered B asked C responded
30 A parents B siblings C grandparents
31 A valuable B valued C evaluated
32 A late B later C latest
33 A company B together C close
34 A write B read C count
35 A where B why C when
36 A rewarding B reward C rewarded
37 A spiritual B immaterial C material

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TEACHER’S FILE iTEEN 9
PET

WRITING

PART 1

Here are some sentences about a teen who wants to get a summer job.
For each question, complete the second sentence so that it means the same as the first.
Use no more than two words.

1 Tom wants to get a summer job.


Tom is interested _____________________ getting a summer job.

2 He is considering getting a summer job to earn some money.


He would like _____________________ a summer job to earn some money.

3 Tom shows a lot of responsibility.


Tom is very _____________________.

4 A café owner chose him for the job.


He _____________________ for the job by a café owner.

5 It is forbidden to smoke at his café.


You _____________________ at his café.

6 Tom said, ‘I like my job very much’.


Tom said that he _____________________ job very much.

PART 2

Question 7
Reply to Ann’s post, answering her question.
Say if you would like to be a celebrity and why/why not.
Write 35-45 words.

PART 3
Question 8
Write an answer to one of the questions in this part.
Write your answer in about 100 words.

A This is part of a letter you received from an English penfriend.

I would like to be a famous football player. I love football and


it is a well-paid job. What about you? What’s your dream job?

B Your English teacher has asked you


to write a story.
The title of your story must be: A great summer job

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TEACHER’S FILE iTEEN 9
PET

LISTENING

PART 1
You will hear a text about a day in the life of a teacher.
For each schedule there are three pictures.
Choose the right answer – A, B or C.
1 6:15 a.m.

A B C
2 9:00 a.m. – 9:15 a.m.

A B C
3 11:33 a.m. – 1:13 p.m.

A B C
4 1:20 p.m. – 2:10 p.m.

A B C
5 2:10 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.

A B C

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PET

PART 2

You will hear a teenager talk about his dream job.


For each question, choose the correct answer – A, B or C.

6 Philip’s dream job is to be a


A doctor. B psychologist. C physicist.

7 CERN is a centre for ____________ research.


A scientific B medical C environmental

8 To work there you need to be


A smart and brave. B smart and experienced. C smart and hardworking.

9 You can learn about


A the Earth. B the Universe. C new Universes.

10 Einstein is the brain behind


A String theory. B the theory of relativity. C CERN.

11 Philips’ dream job would allow him to understand ____________ better.


A the Universe B the past C the future

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PET

PART 3

You will hear a job interview.


For each question, fill in the missing information in the numbered space.

Job interview
Name: (12)_____________________
Education: Bachelor’s and master’s degree in (13)_____________________
Experience: She worked for (14)___________________ at the Daily Newspaper and then
at the Bay Area Chronicle, covering local and state (15)___________________.
Reason for leaving last job: She had (16)_____________________.
Reasons for applying: Her husband (17)_____________________ there and she
considers that that newspaper (18)____________________________ suited to her ideas,
writing style and interests.

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PET

PART 4

You will hear a text about a man who missed one great
career… but who succeeded brilliantly in another.
Decide if each sentence is correct or incorrect.
If it is correct, put a tick (✓) in the box under YES.
If it is not correct, put a tick (✓) in the box under NO.

YES NO
19 Barack Obama has always been fond of basketball. ___ ___
20 His father used to play with him. ___ ___
21 Basketball is much more than a sport to him. ___ ___
22 He had posters of his favourite players on the walls. ___ ___
23 In his high school yearbook he wrote he had decided to be a lawyer. ___ ___
24 He stopped playing after being elected president. ___ ___
25 Basketball helps him escape the pressures of his job. ___ ___

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PET

SPEAKING
PART 1
(2/3 minutes)

In this part of the test, you’ll be asked some personal questions. 


Answer the following questions about yourself.

Student A Student B
• What is your name? • What is your family name?
• What is your surname? • How do you spell it?
• How do you spell it? • Where do you live?
• How old are you? • What’s your dream job?
• What are your best qualities? And faults? • What qualities and skills do you
need for that job?
• Would you like to have a part-time job? • Do your parents approve?
Why / Why not?

PART 2
(2/3 minutes)

I’m going to describe a situation to you.


A friend of yours wants to buy a new camera but he hasn’t got enough money.
Talk together about the different part-time jobs he could get and decide which ones would be the
best.
Here is a picture with some ideas to help you.

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© Areal Editores
TEACHER’S FILE iTEEN 9
PET

PART 3
(3 minutes)

In this part of the test, you’ll be asked to talk on your own about a photograph.

Student A: Describe your picture in detail. Say what you can see, what job that person has, its
advantages and disadvantages, etc. Would you like to do that job?
Student B: Do the same.

Student A

Student B

PART 4
(2/3 minutes)

Your pictures showed two very different jobs. Talk about your dream job.

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PET

ANSWERS – PET Test 5


READING
Part 1 (6 x 1 = 6)
Part 2 (4 x 2 = 8)
Part 3 (8 x 1 = 8)
Part 4 (7 x 1 = 7)
Part 5 (12 x 1 = 12)
Part 1
1. C; 2. A; 3. B; 4. B; 5. B; 6. C
Part 2
7. B; 8. C; 9. F; 10. D
Part 3
11. C; 12. I; 13. C; 14. C; 15. C; 16. I; 17. I; 18. C
Part 4
19. A; 20. C; 21. C; 22. B; 23. A; 24. A; 25. B
Part 5
26. A; 27. B; 28. B; 29. C; 30. B; 31. A; 32. C; 33. A;
34. B; 35. C; 36. A; 37. C

WRITING
Part 1 (6 x 3 = 18)
Part 2 (15)
Part 3 (26)
Part 1
1. in; 2. to get; 3. responsible; 4. was chosen
5. mustn’t smoke; 6. liked his
Part 2
Question 7
I would like to be a celebrity. Celebrities usually have interesting jobs; like singing or acting, they are respected, admired,
and they earn a lot of money. So, they have big houses and fast cars. The only negative thing is loss of privacy.
Part 3
Question 8
A
Hi, Peter.
I also like playing football but what I would like to be is a professional singer. As you know, I’ve got my own band and I’ve
been the vocalist for three years. We’ve already played at some parties and bars. It’s great to give people some rhythm
and fun. Besides, I also write song lyrics; so I would like to continue writing and playing my songs. That’s why I have
attended music school since I was ten. Apart from the usual subjects, I have singing lessons and my teacher says I’m
improving a lot. So, maybe I can fulfil my dream.
B
A great summer job
Everyone has a passion for something. Well, I have a passion for animals, especially dogs. Therefore, last summer I looked
for dog shelters that accepted voluntary workers and I found one, not far from home. My father would drive me there,
sometimes also on Saturdays and Sundays, because animals eat every day. That shelter had about 100 dogs that had
been rescued from the street or from irresponsible owners. Then, people could visit and adopt a dog. My work was mainly
cleaning the kennels and feeding the animals. But I spent a lot of time petting them, of course. I loved that summer job!

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PET

LISTENING
Part 1 (5 x 2 = 10)
Part 2 (6 x 2 = 12)
Part 3 (7 x 2 = 14)
Part 4 (7 x 2 = 14)
Part 1
1. A; 2. B; 3. A; 4. C; 5. C
Part 2
6. C; 7. A; 8. C; 9. B; 10. B; 11. A
Part 3
12. Miss White; 13. journalism; 14. a year; 15. politics
16. a baby; 17. was transferred; 18. is better suited
Part 4
19. YES; 20. NO; 21. YES; 22. YES; 23. NO; 24. NO;
25. YES

SPEAKING (SUGGESTIONS)

Part 1
Student B
Mário
Queiroz
Q–U–E–I–R–O–Z
I’m fifteen
Oh, that’s hard to say. My teachers often say I’m lively and I’m curious about a lot of things. However, i?m sometimes a
bit lazy and naughty. No, not in yerm time, anyway, because I have a lot of things to study and think it is important to
learn as much as we can get good marks, too.

Student B
My surname is Ferreira.
F–E–R–R–E–I–R–A
Since I was a child I have lived in…, which is (a village in the District of ….)// a neighbourhood/suburb of (….) I have
always dreamt/dreamed of being a photographer.
I think that to be a photographer you must be a sensitive person. You have to feel with your eyes because usually the
best pictures are all about feeling. You must know what the exact moment to take your photo is. And, of course, you
need to be patient, since you don’t take the perfect picture at the first shot.
Yes, my father is also a photographer and he teaches me a lot about how to operate a camera and about some useful
techniques I can use.

Part 2
Student A: I’m thinking about my friend Miguel who likes animals very much. So, I think that a good part-time job for
him would be pet sitting. And since he loves nature, he could also choose to work as a gardener, planting trees and
taking care of the flowers.

Student B: Hmmm, are you sure? When I think about him, I always imagine him working with children, teaching them
how the world works, taking them for a walk, reading stories… Or… working in a candy shop!! That would be fun!

Student A: Well, probably you’re right. Another thing he could do would be washing our neighbours’ cars. They’re
always asking us to do that and they give us a good tip for it.

Student B: To be honest, I don’t think he would like to do that. What about being a lifeguard? He’s a very good
swimmer. The beach is not far away from where we live and he loves going to the beach. In that way he could enjoy
the sun and get money for that. Perfect!

Student A: Yes, I’m sure he would like that idea. I think I’ll call him to suggest that.
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PET

Part 3
Student A: The woman in the picture is a singer. To achieve fame you have to work hard and be very good at what you
do. I would like to be a singer because music plays a very important role in my life. On the other hand, famous singers
have a busy agenda and they lose their privacy. 

Student B: This man is a fisherman. He has already caught some fish.


There are a lot of job opportunities in fishing because the demand for fresh seafood is high, but I wouldn’t like to have
this job because it’s dangerous, particularly in winter, when the sea is rough. Many fishermen die in the sea.

Part 4
Student A: I would like to be a doctor because I find medicine fascinating. I want to help people and save lives.
However, studying to become a doctor can involve several years of hard work and you must be very strong because it
involves a lot of pressure and responsibility.

Student B: I would like to be a model. Models have the chance to meet many interesting people and you can become
famous and internationally recognized.
If you work hard, you will have the opportunity to earn lots of money.
You can be the first to wear fabulous designer clothes and accessories.
However, it can become a boring and tiring job because you will have to work long hours and pose for the camera all
day. You will have to go on a diet all the time to be fit and healthy.

SCRIPTS LISTENING TEST


Part 1
A day in the life of a high school English teacher
I currently teach the ninth grade English component of a world studies course in the humanities department of a very
large suburban high school near Washington DC.
6:15 I arrive at school. It’s early but I am always afraid of traffic. Even at this really, early hour, there are always a few
other teachers around (with big cups of coffee). We usually run into each other at the copier.
7:20 – 9:00 The first block. You can tell from the time frames that our classes tend to be long ones. I like the length
because students can start and finish assignments in one sitting, but it is a challenge to keep every student engaged all
period long. I try to break up assignments and alternate types of activities.
9:00 – 9:15 The whole school takes a break. The room is filled with kids eating snacks. It’s fun to hang out and hear
them talk about something besides the lesson.
9:15 – 10:55 The second block. The second block is the same as the first with a few tweaks here and there to meet the
needs of a different set of students. Ninth graders are so funny - they want to be grown up but they are still little kids
sometimes.
11:02 – 11:28 Lunch. Our school is so large that we have several lunch periods.
11:33 – 1:13 Planning period for me. I have about a zillion papers to grade. The downside of teaching is definitely
grading endless stacks of papers. I daydream about smart scanners that can grade student essays with just a flick of the
wrist or hiring an assistant just to grade essays or…well, you get the picture.
1:20 – 2:10 Last class of the day. The kids can be tired, so it is challenging to keep them upbeat and focused. I am lucky
to have a really cooperative group at the end of the day.
2:10 – 3:45 It’s not over yet. I stay after school four days a week to help students make up work, get extra help on writing
assignments, or just work on problems they are having with the material. Most of the teachers at my school stay after
lessons to offer extra help.
http://teaching.monster.com/careers/articles/8082-a-day-in-the-life-of-a-high-school-english-teacher (abridged)

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PET

Part 2
My dream job
I dream of becoming a physicist and working at CERN, the European nuclear research facility. It is situated near Geneva,
Switzerland. Only the most intelligent scientists in the world are hired. These are physicists, software engineers,
mechanical and electrical engineers and other specialists. To get hired there, a person must be very smart, of course,
and very hardworking.
In CERN I would do things beyond most people’s imagination: discovering new particles, unravelling the world’s greatest
mysteries and answering the biggest questions. Antimatter and various subatomic particles, for which atoms are as huge
as a planet to us, were discovered there and intriguing theories of their existence proven.
Some scientists there have a new unifying theory of everything, the string theory, which unites Einstein’s theory of
relativity and quantum theory and which is based on many dimensions! 
They have the world’s biggest particle accelerator, the LHC or the Large Hadron Collider, which can create particles like
the amazing Higgs boson out of protons travelling at almost the speed of light. But, experimental physics and particle
physics can be very dangerous. The LHC can show us the birth of the Universe, or create a new one out of nothing in
the shape of two particles, one of matter and the other of antimatter, which mutually annihilate each other
instantaneously. They can even create a minuscule, momentary black hole. Imagine what might happen if something
went wrong!
It is my dream job because there I would be able to build the future and answer the questions about the universe.
Alex
http://classroomnumber4.blogspot.pt/2012/05/my-dream-job-narrative-essays.html (adapted)

Part 3
Job interview
Interviewer: Good afternoon, Miss White. Please have a seat.
Interviewee: Thank you.
Interviewer: How are you doing today? Did you have any trouble finding the office?
Interviewee: I’m fine thank you, and I had no trouble at all getting here.
Interviewer: Great. Well let’s get started. Could you tell me a little about your educational background?
Interviewee: Yes, I graduated from UCLA in 2005, with a Bachelor’s degree in journalism. After that I enrolled in NYU’s
master’s program for journalism, graduating in 2008. Interviewer: I see. Now, how about your work experience?
Interviewee: After I left NYU, I worked for a year at the Daily Newspaper.
Interviewer: And after that?
Interviewee: From there I moved to San Francisco and was employed by the Bay Area Chronicle, covering local and
state politics.
Interviewer: What was the biggest story you covered while you were there?
Interviewee: I covered several but I would have to say the most important was the investigative piece I did on the cover-
up of the governor’s staff’s involvement in the embezzlement of education funds.
Interviewer: According to your résumé, you left there three months ago. What have you been doing since then?
Interviewee: Mainly taking care of our baby. She has just turned three months old. But now I’m ready to go back to
work.
Interviewer: What brought you to Denver?
Interviewee: My husband’s company transferred him here last month.
Interviewer: One final question. Why did you apply here? Denver has three daily newspapers to choose from.
Interviewee: I felt that this paper is better suited to my conservative thinking, my unique writing style, and my diverse
areas of interest when covering political news.Interviewer: Well, thank you for your time. We’ll be making a selection in a
couple of days and will call you one way or the other.
Interviewee: Thank you for seeing me. Have a pleasant day.
http://tx.english-ch.com/teacher/ackie/level-b/dialogue-job-interview/ (abridged and adapted)

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Part 4
President Obama’s basketball love affair
To say that President Obama loves basketball understates the role of the sport in his life. He has been devoted to the
game for 40 years now, ever since the father he did not know and never saw again gave him his first ball during a brief
Christmastime visit. Basketball is central to his self-identity. It is global yet American-born, much like him. It is where he
found a place of comfort, a family, a mode of expression, a connection from his past to his future. With foundation roots
in the Kansas of his white forebears, basketball was also the city game, helping him to find his way toward blackness, his
introduction to an African American culture that was distant to him when he was young yet his by birthright.
As a teenager growing up in Hawaii, he dreamed the big hoops dream. He had posters of the soaring Dr J on his
bedroom wall. A lefty, he practised the spin moves of Tiny Archibald. And in the yearbook of an older high school
classmate who wanted to be a lawyer, he wrote: ‘Anyway, been great knowing you and I hope we keep in touch. Good
luck in everything you do, and get that law degree. Some day when I am an all-pro basketballer, and I want to sue my
team for more money, I’ll call on you. Barry.’
It never happened, of course. But the adolescent known as Barry kept on playing, even after he took back his given
name of Barack and went off to college at Occidental, Columbia and Harvard and went into community organizing, then
politics in Illinois. He played whenever he could on playgrounds, in fancy sport clubs, at home, on the road. During his
first trip back to Honolulu after being elected president, he rounded up a bunch of his old high school pals, got the key to
the gym at Punahou School, and went at it.
In his presidency, basketball has become a recurring theme, one of the visible ways that he has escaped the confines of
the White House and the pressures of his job. This is the story of the roots of his obsession, back in his days as a
teenager, when Barry Obama played on one of the best high school teams in the country.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/president-obamas-basketball-love-affair-has-roots-in-hawaii-high-school-
team/2012/06/09/gJQApU2mQV_story.html (abridged)

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© Areal Editores

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