Learning is a treasure that will follow its owner everywhere.

FIRST ENGLISH EXAM

I'm fat. I'm too skinny. I'd be happy if I were taller, shorter, had curly hair, straight hair, a smaller nose, longer legs. Do any of these statements sound familiar? Are you used to putting yourself down? If so, you're not alone. As a teen, you're going through a ton of changes in your body. And as your body changes, so does your image of yourself. Lots of people have trouble adjusting, and this can affect their self-esteem.

Some girls struggle with their self-esteem when they begin puberty because the body goes through many changes. These changes, combined with a natural desire to feel accepted, mean it can be tempting for girls to compare themselves with others. They may compare themselves with the people around them or with actors and celebs they see on TV, in movies, or in magazines. The changes that come with puberty can affect how girls feel about themselves. Some girls may feel uncomfortable or embarrassed about their maturing bodies. Others may wish that they were developing faster. They may feel pressure to be thin.

Most teenage girls want to be fitter and lose weight, but fewer than half do any weekly exercise, according to research. A study found that fewer than half of all young people eat any fresh fruit daily despite the doctors’ recommendations. They want to exercise to improve their appearance, but many do not because they do not like the way that they look while exercising.

Helen Haste, the author of the report, My Body, My Self, said: “Work has been done before on young people’s behavior in relation to health, but we were interested in their attitudes to health, fitness and exercise. We can’t persuade young people to change their behavior just by telling them what’s good for them, but what is important to them.

She added that fewer than half her sample exercised once a week, apart from walking. Asked why they did not exercise 49 per cent of girls said that they did not feel comfortable exercising in front of other people, 35 per cent said they did not have time, 34 per cent said they did not look good in exercise clothes, 33 per cent said they did not want to look too muscular and 30 per cent said they were no good at sport.

Almost half the girls (47 per cent) said they would rather dance or do yoga than take part in traditional sports.

From: My Body, My Self

A novel by Helen Haste

I. Reading comprehension: (08pts)

A) Multiple choices:

1. Choose the best title for the text: (01pt)

a) Girls are old-fashioned

b) Girls don’t eat

c) Girls’ self-estimation

2. “They want to do exercises to improve their appearance” means they want: (01pt)

a) to do grammar exercises

b) to do homework

c) to do sports

3. Fresh fruit is eaten by: (01pt)

a) more than 50% of all teenagers.

b) more than 50% of all teenage girls.

c) less than 50% of all teenagers.

B) True or false statements: say whether the following sentences are true or false. Justify by quoting from the text.(03pts)

1. Girls imitate people they meet or see on television.

……………………………………………………………………………………………….

2. Most girls do not take exercise because they are already healthy.

……………………………………………………………………………………………….

3. Doctors recommended girls not to eat any fresh fruit.

……………………………………………………………………………………………….

C) Referencing: what do these words refer to in the text? (01pt)

Their (their self-esteem) ……………………………………

She (she added) ……………………………………………..

D) Vocabulary in context: (01pt)

1. Find the synonyms of the words bellow from the given paragraphs of the text.

a) Skeleton (paragraph 1) …………………………………

b) To fight (paragraph 2) ………………………………….

2. Find the opposites of the words bellow from the given paragraphs of the text.

a) Weak (paragraph) ………………………………..

b) Artificial (paragraph 2) ………………………………..

II. Linguistic competence: (07pts)

A/ Put the verbs between brackets into the right tense (03 pts)

An old and wise man said: “Nowadays, the world (become) ………………………. smaller thanks to internet. Many young people’s behavior (change) ………………………... since its discovery and especially girls. Most of them (imitate) …………………the top models they (see)……………. on T.V. They think that if they (stop) …………………..eating, they will be very fit and skinny. But I think if they were aware of their health, they (not / stop) ………………… eating.”

B/ Complete this text meaningfully with the appropriate answer tag or question: (02pts)

John: I notice that girls don’t want to be very fat, …………………..?

Alice: No, ……………………...

John: Well, ……………… should you do to be fit?

Alice: We should do sports to keep fit.

John: Of course, you ………………….. but many girls don’t want to have strong muscles like men.

C/ Use the most appropriate pronoun: (02pts)

Doctor: Girls should take care of …………………. . Because if they don’t eat they could have some problems.

The girl: What kind of problems can …………. have?

Doctor: ………… could have anemia meaning blood deficiency.

The girl: I’m sorry but girls follow their friends’ advice and not ……………. .

III. Essay writing (05pts) choose one topic and deal with it. (Max.10 lines)

Topic 1: Why do nowadays girls like being fit and skinny?

Topic 2: Due to foreign culture imposed to us by internet many girls tend to forget their traditions and culture and imitate the white men. Discuss.