Download escola eb 2,3/s de mondim de basto - Collège des Saints

Collège des Saints Cœurs
Sioufi
Jan, 2012
Duration: 25 min.
Grade 8- Section …….…
Name: ………………….
N…..
Reading Comprehension
Read the following text:
There are some people who made their lives lightened with their mental strength and personal
intuition. They were somehow disabled in their life but nothing could stop them from their goals.
Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven (17 December 1772 – 26 March 1827)
was a German composer and pianist. Although he was deaf at
the later part of his life, he remains one of the most famous and
influential composers of all time. He got the primary knowledge
of music from his father, Johann van Beethoven who was a
musician in the electoral court. In his early life he was famous
as a pianist. He went to Vienna and learned many things from
some of the famous musicians.
In the 1790s, Beethoven gradually began to lose his hearing,
but continued to play, compose, and conduct. Eventually he
became entirely deaf, yet he didn’t let his disability stop him. To
continue to play, he used a rod that was attached to a piano
soundboard that he’d bite and would vibrate so that his sound
perception was increased. During his career he composed many
piano Sonatas such as “Waldstein” or Appassionata”.
Stephen Hawking
Stephen Hawking (born 8 January 1942) is a British theoretical
physicist, whose world-renowned scientific career lasts over 40
years. This famous scientist is considered as the greatest
scientist of the twentieth century after Einstein. Hawking’s big
bang theory and black hole theory have turned the attention of
the world.
He is the professor of Mathematics of the University of
Cambridge. His most notorious book is “A Brief History of
Time”. Stephen Hawking is severely disabled by motor neuron
disease, probably a variant of the disease known as
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The diagnosis of that disease
came when Hawking was 21, shortly before his first marriage,
and doctors said he would not survive more than two or three
years. Hawking gradually lost the use of his arms, legs, and
voice, and in 2009 was almost completely paralyzed. His
physical condition did not make him stop his research. He feels
lucky and pleased because he has a family who loves him, and
gives him support with his severe disease.
A. Find synonyms in the first text for following words: ( 1 pt)
a) Continues to be ___________________
b) Completely_______________________
c) Connected _______________________
d) Job or work_______________________
B. Match the two halves of the sentences below. ( 2 ½ pts)
1. Beethoven first became
a)
... despite his physical condition.
recognized...
b)
…as a pianist.
2. In spite of Beethoven’s
c) ... for more than four decades.
disability...
d)
... he didn’t stop working.
3. Stephen Hawking has been a
e)
... he was diagnosed with amyotrophic
scientist.
lateral sclerosis.
4. By the time Hawking was 21
years old...
5. Hawking continues his
research....
1.______ 2. ______3. ______4. ______5. ______
C. Answer these questions according to the text. Use your own words as
far as possible. (6 ½ pts)
1. When did Beethoven begin to lose his hearing ability?
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
2. How was Beethoven able to play after losing his hearing?
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
3. Why is Stephen Hawking so famous?
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
4. What is Hawking’s job?
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
5. Is Hawking unhappy about his condition? Explain why.
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
6. Which of these stories has impressed you the most? Explain why.
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________