14145 mixed reading and grammar

READING Read the passage and answer the questions.

A HEALTHY MIND
The brain is the most amazing part of our body and nobody really understands everything about
it. But just like our bodies, it needs to be cared for in quite simple ways. Getting a good night’s
sleep, eating a balanced diet and taking deep breaths are all important methods of looking after
both your body and your brain.
Many people think their brain will slow down with age and their memory will get worse . The
truth is, just like your body, you can also improve your mind. I’ve found I can improve my
memory by imagining what I need to remember. For example, if I’m going shopping and I need
bread, milk and a birthday card for my brother, I think of a loaf of bread, a carton of milk with a
cow on the front and a birthday card with a football on it.
You can use the same method for important dates. If you have a picture of something in your
mind, it’s much easier to remember it.
Another way of improving your mind is to visit new places and have new experiences.
Personally I find learning Spanish is a great way to keep the brain working. Having a conversation
is so much better for your brain than looking at a computer screen or at other people talking on
TV.
Circle the correct answer
1. What is the writer’s main aim in
2) What does the reader learn about
writing the text?
the writer from the text?
a) to explain how our body works
a) She has a computer.
b) to talk about problems with the brain
b) She is learning another language.
c) to describe how clever she is
c) She likes shopping.
d) to suggest the brain needs attention
d) She enjoys travelling.

3) What does the writer say about
the brain?
a) We must look after our brains.
b) People know everything about the brain.
c) The brain becomes tired when we are old.
d) It works very hard when we watch TV.
5) What would be another title for the text?
a) Easy ways to develop your mind.
b) We know everything about the brain.
c) The power of memory.
d) Learning Spanish is easy.

4) What does the writer say about
her own memory?
a) It is possible to make it better.
b) She can’t remember numbers at all.
c) It has got worse over the years.
d) She often forgets birthdays.


USE OF ENGLISH

1) Fill in the gaps using Present Simple and Present Continuous.
1. He never …………………………….. (work) on Saturdays.
2. It is cold this morning so we ……………………………… (wear) our coats.
3. Jim usually ………………………….. (leave) for work at nine o’clock but this morning
he ……………………………. (water) the flowers in the garden.
4. …………………… the sun ……………………. (shine) at the moment?
5. …………………… Harry ……………………… (want) to go on the school trip?
6. …………………..you ……………………..(play) with your friends every day?

7. Claire is in the bathroom. She ……………………………. (wash) her hair.
8. I usually …………………………………… (spend) all my money on CDs but at the
moment I ……………………………………. (save) my money to buy a new laptop.

2) Circle the correct tense.
1. Kelly was having/ had a shower when her phone was ringing/rang.
2. Somebody was stealing/ stole Dave’s clothes while he was swimming /
swam in the sea.
3. While Kate was reading/read the newspaper, her brother was watching/
watched TV.
4. When my mother was arriving/ arrived home, I was studying/studied
English.
5. While I was doing/ did the washing up,I was breaking/ broke a plate.

3) Write the PAST TENSE forms of the verbs below.
catch …………………………..

think …………………………..

buy

………………………………
read ……………………………

sell ……………………………..

4) Ask questions for the underlined words.
1. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….?
Mary drinks milk every morning.
2. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….?

Darren broke a valuable vase yesterday.
3. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….?
Mary is eating a hot dog now.


4. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….?
My friends usually sleep at 9.30.
5. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….?
Carol was watching a horror film at ten o’clock last night.