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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. _________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________