Read the formal and less formal articles and fill in the gaps by choosing one of the phrases below.

1. without the basic knowledge of / without knowing

2. To start with / Firstly

3. should have close contact / should be in constant contact

4.Thus, any problems that do arise can be dealt with quickly/so that any problems can be quickly sorted out

5. the students are kept motivated and willing to study / the kids learn and their work is rewarded

6. the parents should be more understanding / it is the parents' responsibility to understand

7. This involves helping them with their homework / They should offer help with homework

8. the solution lies in the improvement / I believe that things will get better

MODEL 1: Today’ Illiterate Youth s More and more children are leaving school, 1) ......................... how to read or write. I believe that this is due to the lack of support and encouragement by teachers and parents and the pupils' lack of interest. 2) .......................... the teachers 3)......................... with the parents to discuss their child's academic progress as well as their social behaviour and attitude. 4) ..................… Secondly, teachers should be more encouraging towards their pupils, keeping them interested in the subjects so that 5) ................. . Thirdly, 6)............... their child's needs. 7) ................. and supporting them in any difficulties that may arise. In conclusion, 8)...… ........ of the relationships between all three groups: the teachers, parents and pupils, and in this way, illiteracy should decrease.

MODEL 2: Our Kids Can’ Read! t You may not be aware of it, but more and more children are leaving school, 1) ......................... how to read or write. As I see it, the problem can be solved by increasing the support and encouragement of teachers and parents and the interest of pupils. 2).........................., the teachers 3) ......................... with the parents, so that they can discuss their child's progress and behaviour at school 4)......................... .

Complete the sentences with the words from the box.

1. People in my village are very _________ to all visitors.

2. Parents in our village don’t put much _________ on their children to do well at school.

3. In my school, we can _________ on study and play, and do not have to worry about bullies.

4. The best _________ player in our chess club will not be able to join the competition.

5. If a boy uses his strength to frighten weaker peers, he is a _________.

Read the passage, then choose the correct answer

Many people now think that teachers give students too much homework. They say that it is unnecessary for children to work at home in their free time.

Moreover, they argue that most teachers do not properly plan the homework tasks they give to students. The result is that students have to repeat tasks which they have already done at school.

Most people agree that homework is unfair. A student who can do his homework in a quiet and comfortable room is in a much better position than a student who does his homework in a small, noisy room with the television on. Some parents help their children with their homework. Other parents take no interest at all in their children’s homework.

It is important, however, that teachers talk to parents about homework. A teacher should suggest suitable tasks for parents to do with their children. Parents are often better at teaching their own children!

1. According to the writer________.

A. many parents would like their children to have less homework.

B. homework is unnecessary for children.

C. students should do a lot of work in their leisure time.

D. teachers used to give their students less homework.

2. According to many parents,________

A. most homework is difficult.

B. their children have to plan the homework tasks.

C. most teachers do not properly plan the homework tasks.

D. most teachers give old homework.

3. Students ________

A. can do their homework better in a quiet room.

B. can not do their homework without their parents’ help.

C. can do their homework better in a noisy room.

D. do not have any homework now.

4. Only a small number of people ________

A. can help their children with their homework.

B. take interest in their children’s homework.

C. agree that homework is unnecessary.

D. think that homework is fair.

5. According to the passage, teachers should________

A. advise parents about how to work together with their children at home.

B. plan the homework tasks more carefully.

C. allow students to stay at school to do their homework.

D. not give their students too much homework.

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct answer to each of the questions from 30 to 34.

Successful students often do the followings while studying. First, they have an overview before reading. Next, they look for important information and pay greater attention to it (which often needs jumping forward or backward to process information). They also relate important points to one another. Also, they activate and use their prior knowledge. When they realize that their understanding is not good, they do not wait to change strategies. Last, they can monitor understanding and take action to correct or “fix up” mistakes in comprehension.

Conversely, students with low academic achievement often demonstrate ineffective study skills. They tend to assume a passive role, in learning and rely on others (e.g., teachers, parents) to monitor their studying, for example, low-achieving students often do not monitor their understanding of content; they may not be aware of the purpose of studying; and they show little evidence of looking back, or employing “fix-up” strategies to fix understanding problems. Students who struggle with learning new information seem to be unaware that they must extent effort beyond simply reading the content to understand and remember it. Children with learning disabilities do not plan and judge the quality of their studying. Their studying may be disorganized. Students with learning problems face challenges with personal organization as well. They often have difficulty keeping track of materials and assignments, following directions, and completing work on time. Unlike good studiers who employ a variety of study skills in a flexible yet purposeful manner, low achieving students use a restricted range of study skills. They cannot explain why good study strategies are important for learning; and they tend to use the same, often ineffective study approach for all learning tasks, ignoring task content, structure or difficulty.

(Source: Adapted from Study Skills: Managing Your Learning — NUI Galway)

What is the topic of the passage? 

A. Successful and low-academic achieving students 

B. Successful learners and their learning strategies 

C. Study skills for high school students 

D. Effective and ineffective ways of learning 

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the best answer for each question from 46 to 50.

Successful students often do the followings while studying. First they have an overview before reading. Next, they look for important information and pay greater attention to it (which often needs jumping forward or backward to process information). They also relate important points to one another. Also, they activate and use their prior knowledge. When they realize that their understanding is not good, they do not wait to change strategies. Last, they can monitor understanding and take action to correct or “ fix-up” mistakes in comprehension.

Conversely, students with low academic achievement often demonstrate ineffective study skills. They tend to assume a passive role in learning and rely on others(e.g, teachers, parents) to monitor their studying. For example, low-achieving students often do not monitor their understanding of content, they may not be aware of the purpose of studying, and their show little evidence of looking back, or employing “fix-up” strategies to fix understanding problems. Students who struggle with learning new information seem to be unaware that they must extent beyond simply reading the content to understand and remember it. Children with learning disabilities do not plan and judge the quality off their studying. Their studying may be disorganized. Students with learning problems face challenges with personal organization as well. They often have difficulty keeping track of materials and assignments, following directions, and completing work on time. Unlike good student who employ a variety of study skills in a flexible yet purposeful manner, low-achieving students use a restricted range of skills. They can not explain why good study strategies are important for learning, and they tend to use the same, often ineffective, study approach for all learning tasks, ignoring task content, structure of difficulty.

(Adapter from Study Skills: Managing Your Learning – NUI Galway)

What is the topic of the passage?

A. Successful and low-academic achieving students. 

B. Successful learners and their learning strategies.

C. Study skills for high school students.

D. Effective and ineffective ways of learning.

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct answer to each of the questions from 36 to 42.

Successful students often do the followings while studying. First, they have an overview before reading. Next, they look for important information and pay greater attention to it (which often needs jumping forward or backward to process information). They also relate important points to one another. Also, they activate and use their prior knowledge. When they realize that their understanding is not good, they do not wait to change strategies. Last, they can monitor understanding and take action to correct or “fix up” mistakes in comprehension. 

Conversely, students with low academic achievement often demonstrate ineffective study skills. They tend to assume a passive role, in learning and rely on others (e.g., teachers, parents) to monitor their studying, for example, low-achieving students often do not monitor their understanding of content; they may not be aware of the purpose of studying; and they show little evidence of looking back, or employing “fix-up” strategies to fix understanding problems. Students who struggle with learning new information seem to be unaware that they must extent effort beyond simply reading the content to understand and remember it. Children with learning disabilities do not plan and judge the quality of their studying. Their studying may be disorganized. Students with learning problems face challenges with personal organization as well. They often have difficulty keeping track of materials and assignments, following directions, and completing work on time. Unlike good studiers who employ a variety of study skills in a flexible yet purposeful manner, low-achieving students use a restricted range of study skills. They cannot explain why good study strategies are important for learning; and they tend to use the same, often ineffective study approach for all learning tasks, ignoring task content, structure or difficulty. 

What is the topic of the passage?

A. Successful and low-academic achieving students  

B. Successful learners and their learning strategies 

C. Study skills for high school students  

D. Effective and ineffective ways of learning

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, c, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct answer to each of the questions from 35 to 42.

Successful students often do the followings while studying. First, they have an overview before reading. Next, they look for important information and pay greater attention to it [which often needs jumping forward or backward to process information). They also relate important points to one another. Also, they activate and use their prior knowledge. When they realize that their understanding is not good, they do not wait to change strategies. Last, they can monitor understanding and take action to correct or "fix up" mistakes in comprehension.

Conversely, students with low academic achievement often demonstrate ineffective study skills. They tend to assume a passive role, in learning and rely on others (e.g., teachers, parents) to monitor their studying, for example, low-achieving students often do not monitor their understanding of content; they may not be aware of the purpose of studying; and they show little evidence of looking back, or employing "fix-up” strategies to fix understanding problems. Students who struggle with learning new information seem to be unaware that they must extent effort beyond simply reading the content to understand and remember it Children with learning disabilities do not plan and judge the quality of their studying. Their studying may be disorganized. Students with learning problems face challenges with personal organization as well. They often have difficulty keeping track of materials and assignments, following directions, and completing work on time. Unlike good studiers who employ a variety of study skills in a flexible yet purposeful manner, low-achieving students use a restricted range of study skills. They cannot explain why good study strategies are important for learning; and they tend to use the same, often ineffective study approach for all learning tasks, ignoring task content, structure or difficulty.

Question 35. What is the topic of the passage?

A. Successful and low-academic achieving students

B. Successful learners and their learning strategies

C. Study skills for high school students

D. Effective and ineffective ways of learning

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct answer to each of the following questions from 30 to 34.

Successful students often do the followings while studying. First, they have an overview before reading. Next, they look for important information and pay greater attention to it (which often needs jumping forward or backward to process information). They also relate important points to one another. Also, they activate and use their prior knowledge. When they realize that their understanding is not good, they do not wait to change strategies. Last, they can monitor understanding and take action to correct or “fix up” mistakes in comprehension.

Conversely, students with low academic achievement often demonstrate ineffective study skills. They tend to assume a passive role, in learning and rely on others (e.g., teachers, parents) to monitor their studying, for example, low-achieving students often do not monitor their understanding of  content; they may not be aware of the purpose of studying; and they show little evidence of looking back, or employing “fix-up” strategies to fix understanding problems. Students who struggle with learning new information seem to be unaware that they must extent effort beyond simply reading the content to understand and remember it. Children with learning disabilities do not plan and judge the quality of their studying. Their studying may be disorganized. Students with learning problems face challenges with personal organization as well. They often have difficulty keeping track of materials and assignments, following directions, and completing work on time. Unlike good studiers who employ a variety of study skills in a flexible yet purposeful manner, low-achieving students use a restricted range of study skills. They cannot explain why good study strategies are important for learning, and they tend to use the same, often ineffective study approach for all learning tasks, ignoring task content, structure or difficulty.

What is the topic of the passage?

A. Successful and low-academic achieving students 

B. Successful learners and their learning strategies 

C. Study skills for high school students 

D. Effective and ineffective ways of learning