III You have found a wallet in the school corridor. Write a notice (35–45 words) about it. Include this information:

• describe the wallet (colour, shape);

• say where and when you found it;

• give your contact details.

Examination Card № 17 (12)

I. Reading

Read the text and choose the best answer (A–D) to complete the sentences (1–4).

Christmas is probably the most festive time of the year, a season of gift-giving and celebration. We all know that Christmas is a religious holiday which marks the birth of Jesus Christ. But did you also know that some of the traditions are adapted from rituals dating back to the time before Christianity?

Many pagan peoples regarded the winter solstice as a time of celebration. Anticipating the return of spring, people decorated their homes with evergreen plants, a symbol of eternal life. Mistletoe was especially popular, as it was believed to have magic powers. People hung sprigs of mistletoe in their homes and kissed beneath them as a gesture of friendship. At pagan festivals there was also a lot of singing and dancing going on – “dancing in a circle” is the original meaning of the word “carol”.

Still now we keep these traditions up: we sing Christmas carols and dance around in circles, we kiss beneath the mistletoe and we decorate our homes with Christmas trees. By the way, did you know that it was a German who set the trend of decorating Christmas trees in England? It was Prince Albert, Queen Victoria’s husband. When he moved to England, Christmas trees had already been popular in continental Europe, but not in England. In 1841, Prince Albert put up a Christmas tree at Windsor Castle. The event was reported in the press; and as the whole country was very keen on the royal family, people enthusiastically took up the custom of decorating a tree at Christmas.

1. What did pagan peoples celebrate at this time of the year?

A the birth of Jesus Christ

B the winter solstice

C the magic powers of mistletoe

D the New Year coming

2. What does the word “carol” originally mean?

A to dance in a circle

B to sing Christmas songs

C to sing and dance around the Christmas tree

D to play games at Christmas

3. According to the text, which statement is correct?

A The royal family were the first Europeans who had a Christmas tree.

B Many people went to Windsor Castle to see the Christmas tree.

C Prince Albert brought the tradition of putting up a Christmas tree to Britain.

D Christmas trees had been already popular in England.

4. Did people support the idea of decorating a Christmas tree?

A People didn’t like this idea.

B People eagerly took up the custom of decorating a tree at Christmas.

C People only supported the idea of celebrating Christmas.

D People didn’t want to decorate Christmas trees.

1	2	3	4

II Complete the text with the verbs from the list.

crashing sailing enjoying trying blowing sitting making talking helping

It was a sunny afternoon. David and his friends were (1)_________along the coast, (2)_______ the warm weather. A light breeze was (3)__________ across the bay. They all felt relaxed. Rick and Tyler were (4)_________ David sail the boat as the others were (5)_________, (6)_____ about their plans for the summer holidays. Suddenly, the wind started blowing strongly and the sea became rough. Waves began (7)_________ against the boat, (8)_________ everyone lose their balance. Dark clouds covered the sky. David was (9)_________ to lower the sails when rick cried “Where’s Tyler?”…