B

progress test

Unit 2
Reading A So, why are the ‘purists’ so fervently against
adaptations?
1 Read the text. Complete the text with sentences
B But writers don’t necessarily have a film in
A–F. There is one sentence you do not need.
mind when they create their books.
C Soundtracks, special effects, good acting and
A different experience? directing all work together to bring the writer’s
A top newspaper recently published a list of what it world to life and to extend it.
called the 50 best film adaptations of all time and in
D There are those who insist that classics such
doing so sparked a vigorous debate on whether film
adaptations of books can ever be better than the books as 1984 should never have been adapted for
themselves. the big screen.
This is of course a matter that has provided food for E They see reading a book as entering a world of
discussion for a very long time. [1 ] And there the imagination where readers build their own
are others who maintain that films like The English pictures and make their own interpretations.
Patient are far more accessible than the book and more
F Aren’t film and print completely different
than do justice to it.
media?
[2 ] Many insist that it is impossible to attempt
Mark /10
to put on the screen the essence of what has been
created on the page. [3 ] Film gives us just one
environment and one interpretation. The author of a Vocabulary
book can go inside the characters’ heads and bring us
their thoughts, worries and emotions, whereas in film we 2 Complete the compound words.
depend on the actor’s ability to convey this in speech and
1 Harrison Ford was a heart-
expression. Many people believe that film adaptations
in the 1980s – in fact my mum still likes him!
will always fall short and they simply provide a lazy
alternative for those who like to be spoon-fed their 2 It’s fine to take children to restaurants as long
entertainment. as they’re well- .
Of course, film buffs have a different argument. 3 The committee is going to have to make some
According to them, film opens up the scope of the book. far- decisions in their next
[4 ] Another argument is that film takes a story meeting.
to a much wider audience than the book and therefore
4 Tom never takes offence – he’s pretty
in the long run more people are touched by it.
thick- .
But can we really compare the two? [5 ] We
can’t say one is better than the other because we’re 5 My brother focuses really well on whatever
not comparing like with like. There are good books he wants to do – he’s very
and bad books; there are bad films of good books and -minded.
good films of bad books. However, it is probably true 6 Jake is very narrow- . It’s
to say that seeing a film before reading the book may very frustrating trying to get him to accept new
impair the enjoyment as it is impossible not to bring
ideas.
preconceptions to the reading. The actor from the film
will forever be fixed as the main character in your mind! 7 Luckily the teacher was
Conversely, seeing the film after reading the book can quick- and got all the
spoil any enjoyment a surprise ending might have! children out of the room before the fire took
Maybe the answer is to forget the bad book if there’s hold.
a good film of it and forgo the film if the book is your 8 What’s the last block- you
favourite! saw?

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Unit 2

9 I went to a restaurant with a really strange- while and there was a thick covering on the road
name last night. and pavements. While Matt
10 Although it was made on a shoestring 4 (scrape) ice off the
the film won a lot of windscreen, he 5 (slip)
awards.
and 6 (fall) in the road. I
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7 (realise) he
8 (not move). He
Grammar 9 (hit) his head and I
3 Complete the sentences with as, like or unlike. had to take him to hospital. Luckily he was OK
1 Speaking _______ a friend, I really think you as we 10 (fly) to New York
should put in more work at college. the following day!
2 _______ I said in my report, we’re going to Mark /10
have to make significant cutbacks this year.
3 I must admit, I’m very much _______ most of Listening
my friends. I watch far too much TV! They call
us the couch potato generation. 5 5.02 Listen to someone talking about
location vacations. Choose the best answers.
4 I told Maddy about the test tomorrow and she
was _______ , ‘So what?’ 1 The new trend in location vacations
5 I love films that show us different parts of the A brings in a good profit for the film industry.
world, _______ Slumdog Millionaire. B is a by-product of film-making.
6 My dog is _______ a baby and just loves lots C contributes to a film’s popularity.
of affection!
2 Location vacations are of interest to
7 Brad was late for class today, _______ was Kelly.
A holiday designers.
8 Have you seen Petra’s new outfit today? She
B people who want to meet film stars.
looks _______ a model!
C people who want a different experience.
9 I had to borrow some money from Dad today,
_____ I usually do! 3 Local communities

10 _______ my sister, who is brilliant at tennis, A often need the money this brings.
I’ve never been that keen on sports. B invest a lot of money in this.
Mark /10 C attract new film-makers.
4 According to the speaker
4 Complete the text with the correct past form of
A t he film companies and local agencies work
the verbs in brackets.
as a team.
When I lived in London, Matt and I
B each project is a new venture.
1 (go) to the theatre
C the parties involved are independent.
every Friday night. One Friday we went to see
5 Film enthusiasts
Romeo and Juliet and when we
A want to see exciting new places.
2 (leave) the theatre the
B want to follow in their idols’ footsteps.
weather was really treacherous. It
C want to participate in the movies.
3 (snow) for quite a
Mark /10

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Unit 2

Writing
6 Write a review of a film you have recently seen
for a local magazine. Use the writing guide to
help you. Write 200–250 words.
Paragraph 1: Give background information about
the film.
Paragraph 2: Give a brief summary of the plot.
Paragraph 3: Discuss the film’s strengths and
weaknesses.
Paragraph 4: Give your overall verdict and
recommendation.
Mark /10

Total /60

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