In the tulip fields between Leiden and Haarlem it is common to see...

A did not want to wear more modern clothing.

B had an influence on fashion.

C gradually stopped wearing clothing which later became the "national costume".

D all dressed in the same way.

3. The Germans...

• A wear different costumes in the north and the south.

• B think all national costumes are silly.

• C have different opinions on national costumes.

• D sell their costumes to other countries.

4. What point is the writer illustrating by mentioning jeans and t-shirts?

• A There are still national costumes in all countries.

• B Everyday clothes may eventually be considered national costumes.

• C Fashion is influenced by traditional costumes.

D Jeans and T-shirts have always been popular.

II. Grammar

Choose the correct item to complete the sentence.

1. She is a terrible hypochondriac: she never goes anywhere unless she is with pills

and potions.

• A farmed □ B charged □ C filled □ D covered

2. Your doctor can some medicine to ease the pain.

A offer □ B order □ C give □ D prescribe

3. Junk food has very little value.

• A nutritional □ B dietary □ C healthy □ D medical

3. Children need to be encouraged to brush their teeth until it becomes a habit.

• A customary □ B normal □ C regular □ D typical

3. Anorexia nervosa has both psychological and physical

• A signs □ B markers □ C symptoms □ D symbols

3. Some people meditate to their stress levels.

• A lessen □ B reduce □ C help □ D lighten

III. Writing

This is part of a letter you have received from your pen friend James.

In your next letter; please tell me about the music you like. Wha t's your favourite kind

of music? Do you play the musical instrument?

Write a letter of 50-60 words, answering your pen friend's questions.

IV. Speaking

• Why is this so important to you?

• What was your life like before you had this item?

• What would you do if you lost it one day?

Examination Card 25

I. Reading

Read the text given below. Choose the best heading (A-F) for each paragraph (1-4). There is one heading which you do not need to use. There is an example at the beginning (0).

A ROYAL HOBBY

1. F

Stamp collecting has an image problem. Let's face it, the thought of it as rather 'bo­ring' or as a hobby for 'nerds' has probably at one point or another crossed the minds of even the most polite and tolerant of us. This is not to say that many of us haven't collected stamps at some stage of our lives, even if if meant commencing an interest that didn't progress beyond soaking a few of our overseas relatives' letters in water to try to get those interesting, exotic-looking stamps off. A stamp album or two from days gone by, tucked away or probably hidden in the back of a closet somewhere, isn't unusual either.

1. )

How times have changed! Stamp collecting was a hobby that important figures, such as England's King George V proudly admitted to participating in. It has been referred to as 'the hobby of kings and 'fie king of hobbies', and at the mere mention of the word 'hobby', stamp collecting is the most popular one that comes to mind. A word of ancient Greek origin - 'philately', has even been given to the practice. 'Philos' meaning friend and 'afelos' referring to free of tax, as stamps are basically signs meaning that postage, or tax has been paid. So there you have it - in ancient Greek, stamps are friendly and functional!

(2)

Stamps haven't been around since the Parthenon though. The first postage stamps were issued in Britain in the year 1840. The United States followed a few years later while the idea caught on so well, that by 1860 almost every country had a stamp. Catalogues of each country's stamps were then published, and stamp enthusiasts and collectors could pore over these pages with curiosity and delight.

3. )

Things that may seem rather weird to the lay-person, can be normal practice amongst stamp collectors. Looking at the way the edges of each stamp are cut is one of these 'inside' activities. Others include looking at different paper that some stamps are printed on, as well as ide type of ink used and the printing method. In fact, printing errors on stamps can make them collector's items. Generally, stamps that are hard to find, means that they are rare, which in turn means that they're worth quite a bit of money.

3. )

Monetary values aside, stamps can be seen as representations of art. They serve as social and historical indicators of a country, and its culture. What is more, people of all ages and from all walks of life can enjoy stamp collecting. In these days of emails, mobile phone text messages and faxes, letters seem to be becoming less frequent. As a result, perhaps those colourful, little postage marks known as stamps may start to fascinate people once again. Who knows, stamp collecting might boom, and be once again placed on its former pedestal, as the 'king of hobbies'.

A Tricks of the Trade

B Royalty and Philosophers

C A Special Bookcase for Stamp Albums

D National Symbols

E A 19^th Century Global Trend

F A Bad Reputation