[2]
Initially
popular among young people, selfies have gained wider popularity over time. A
survey conducted by Samsung found that
they constitute 30% of the photos taken by people aged 18–24. In a society in
which images have become a growing means of communication, it has become
accepted, and almost expected, for people to post selfies.
[3]
Many people
send selfies to give a pleasing image of themselves and display their physical
portraits. Some users
of Snapchat choose
to send intentionally
unattractive selfies to
their friends for comic purposes.
For Patricia Wallace, author of The
Psychology of the Internet, some people may just use them to share a funny or spontaneous moment with others.
[4]
However,
according to Zlatan Krizan, a professor of psychology at Iowa State University,
people may engage in dangerous activities to take a selfie that attracts
attention. In the USA, a 32-year-old woman from North Carolina was driving when
her vehicle hit a tree and burst into flames moments after posting selfies
online. Luckily, the driver was unharmed. A 21-year-old Spanish man died from
electrocution after climbing on top of a train to take a selfie. In Russia, a
teenager died while trying to take a selfie on a railway bridge.
[5]
Anabel
Quan-Haase, a professor at the University of Western Ontario, points out that
"as a society, we have moved toward a new type of Net Visual Culture,
where we are attracted by pictures of others and descriptions of events. We
want to show people what our lives are like. Sometimes, this can be achieved
only through taking risks". Given the number of selfie-related injuries
and deaths occurring recently in different countries, it is a must for
officials to launch campaigns to warn people of the dangers of taking selfies.
I. COMPREHENSION (15 POINTS)
A.
COMPLETE
THE FOLLOWING CHART. (3 pts)
|
MAIN
IDEA
|
PARAGRAPH
NUMBER
|
|
a. Reasons for taking selfies
|
. . . . . . . . . . .
|
|
b. Definition of a selfie
|
. . . . . . . . . . .
|
|
c. Examples of selfie
accidents
|
. . . . . . . . . . .
|
|
d. Quan-Haase’s views on
selfies
|
5
|
B.
ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS. (4 pts)
1.
What did the survey
conducted by Sumsung show?
.
2.
Name two purposes for
posting selfies: . .
3.
How did the Spanish man lose
his life?
C. COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING SENTENCES. (3 pts)
1. It was in 2011 that Jennifer Lee . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. .
2. Warning
people of the dangers of taking selfies can limit. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3. In a society
of a Net Visual Culture, people . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
D.
FIND IN THE TEXT WORDS WHICH MEAN ALMOST THE SAME AS: (3 pts)
1. trainer (paragraph
1) : . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2. electric
shock (paragraph 4) : . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3. to start (paragraph 5) : . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . .
E. WHAT DO
THE UNDERLINED WORDS IN THE TEXT REFER TO? (2
pts)
1. them (paragraph
3) : . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . .
2. the driver (paragraph 4) : . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
II. LANGUAGE (15 POINTS)
A.
FILL IN THE GAPS WITH THE APPROPRIATE WORDS FROM THE LIST. (2 pts) promotion - source - academic - code - growth
1. John hasn’t been successful in his......................................... studies.
2. Rapid population.......................................... is
a big challenge to many African countries.
B.
GIVE
THE CORRECT FORM OF THE WORDS IN BRACKETS. (2 pts)
1. “Do they intend to
(emigration)........................................ to
Canada this year?”
2. Our school works in
(partner)........................................ with
local NGOs to fight drug addiction.
C.
FILL IN THE GAPS WITH THE APPROPRIATE WORDS FROM THE LIST. (2
pts)
when - who - whose - what - which
1. Amina was in France........................... her
brother got married.
2. It is Mr Clark.......................... will give a
speech at the opening ceremony.
D.
REWRITE
THE SENTENCES BEGINNING WITH THE WORDS GIVEN. (3 pts)
1. “Can you show me how to use the interactive whiteboard, please?” Pamela asked.
Pamela asked me. . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2. Many schools have installed surveillance cameras.
Surveillance cameras. . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3. Your electricity supply was cut off because you didn’t pay the bill.
Your electricity
supply wouldn’t have been cut off if . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
|
E.
JOIN THE PAIRS OF SENTENCES WITH THE LINKING WORDS GIVEN. (2 pts)
|
|
1. Ahmed joined
his friends in the café. He wanted to watch the Champions League Final. (in order to)
|
|
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
|
|
2. Kate is just seventeen.
She has written two books. (although)
|
|
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
|
|
F.
MATCH EACH EXPRESSION TO ITS APPROPRIATE FUNCTION. (4 pts)
|
Expressions
|
Functions
|
|
1.
“May I use the multimedia
room on Monday morning?”
2.
“I’m afraid I don’t share
your view.”
3.
“What should I do to join
literacy classes?”
4.
“Let’s go skateboarding
this afternoon.”
|
a. asking for advice
b. expressing disagreement
c. making a suggestion
d. responding to bad news
e. asking for permission
|
|
|
|
|
III. WRITING (10
POINTS) DO TASKS 1 AND 2
|
|
TASK 1:
Complete the following paragraph. (4 pts)
|
|
I’m happy with my school,
but I think it still needs some improvements. First, we need a multi-media
room to help us do our research projects. Second, ...........................
TASK 2 This is part of an email you received form an
English friend. Write an answer to your friend.
... What type of films do you like most? and why? Danny
|
|
