Units 2-3

Multiple Choice
Identify the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.

____ 1. Someone who doesn't have the skill or ability to do something is ____.
a. unprincipled
b. incompetent
c. intense
____ 2. When you say someone looks down their nose at everyone, you mean they are ____.
a. a snob
b. bitchy
c. laid-back
____ 3. When someone is stubborn, they ____.
a. like having heavy conversations
b. never worry about anything
c. don’t change their mind very easily
____ 4. A bitchy person ____.
a. stands up for what they believe in
b. thinks they know everything
c. says nasty, hurtful things about people
____ 5. When someone doesn't worry about things very often, they are ____.
a. laid-back
b. arrogant
c. stubborn
____ 6. If someone is charming, they ____.
a. make you feel special
b. are mysterious
c. are ambitious

Instructions: Read the text. Then choose the correct answer to complete the sentence.

MAKING A CASE FOR CINDERELLA

Cinderella is a classic fairy tale about a young girl who is mistreated by her stepmother and stepsisters.
She is eventually rescued by a fairy godmother who helps her to marry a prince and live happily ever after.
There are more than 700 versions of the tale.
Reviled by both feminists and educators alike, Cinderella has acquired a negative reputation for being
outdated, sexist romanticism. So its detractors might understandably be bewildered by the fact that the story
has been revised so many times and still adorns children’s bookshelves around the world today. So what is it
about this particular fairy tale that continues to attract readers? Are the critics right, or are they simply missing
the point?
 Folk literature abounds with tales of the poor underdog who makes good, and Cinderella echoes this well-
established theme. What sets Cinderella apart, however, is the way in which family relationships are
foregrounded. Cinderella is victimised by a cruel stepmother and stepsisters, whom she strives in vain to
please. In the story, Cinderella is a passive heroine – she does not defeat her persecutors herself but requires
outside intervention to escape. This is offered by the all-good fairy godmother, who comes to the rescue,
giving Cinderella the freedom to realise her dreams.
Critics of the tale often condemn the depiction of the stepmother, arguing that she sends a particularly
unpleasant message to children (i.e. that stepmothers are evil). However, several psychologists advise against
our interpreting the story too literally.
On another, deeper level, the stepmother and the fairy godmother can both be considered ‘mother’ figures. As
such, they symbolise the good and bad aspects of any parent’s character in a way that is intuitively accessible
to young minds. Children often feel helpless when faced with a strict parent. They may feel they are being
treated unjustly, particularly when sibling rivalry is involved, as in the story. The message conveyed by the
fairy godmother is that there is always hope. Undoubtedly, this is a very optimistic view. Nevertheless, folk
tales should not be read as realistic stories but rather as tales which appeal directly to the unconsciousness.
This tale resonates with children because of the underlying positivity of its message.
Some modern versions of the tale have tried to address the problem of unconvincing characterisation. In
Cameron Dokey’s Before Midnight: A Retelling of ‘Cinderella’, published in 2007, the stepmother and
stepsisters have well developed, multi-dimensional personalities. Although such contemporary renditions
seem more up-to-date and ‘natural’, they lose something in the re-telling and perhaps misunderstand the
purpose of fairy tales. Through reading traditional tales, children gain initial contact with social concepts such
as fairness and jealousy, punishment and forgiveness – concepts which are articulated through plot rather than
characterisation.
Herein lies the secret of Cinderella’s success. Perhaps more than any other fairy tale, it presents a highly
satisfying example of justice in action. That renders it a powerful tool for developmental learning.

____ 7. The text suggests that Cinderella has been retold _____ .
a. hundreds of times in various ways
b. by feminists to make it less sexist
c. in order to attract today’s readers
____ 8. The text suggests that Cinderella _____ .
a. has exactly the same rags-to-riches plot found in many other fairy tales
b. gives family relationships a prominence not found in other fairy tales
c. differs from most other fairy tales because it has such a passive heroine
____ 9. The text suggests that children respond to the story because _____ .
a. they have all experienced being treated unfairly by their parents and siblings
b. the stepmother and the fairy godmother are two sides of the same character
c. they unconsciously realise that the story actually carries a message of hope
____ 10. The text suggests that modern versions of the tale _____ .
a. are much better because the characters are more complex and realistic
b. have failed to see that characterisation is not so important in fairy tales
c. are unsuccessful because they omit important parts of the original tale
____ 11. The writer’s opinion seems to be that all those who criticise Cinderella _____ .
a. focus on certain features of the story and ignore other important ones
b. will never be able to understand why the story is still so popular today
 c. have made the mistake of interpreting the story as if it were a real event

Short Answer

Instructions: Choose the option in bold that completes the sentence.

1. Don't let his bad behaviour drag down / set up the team any more. Tell him it is totally unacceptable.

2. Sorry to interrupt, but I’d like to stick to / sound out a few ideas with you if you’ve got time.

3. You must be bringing in / going through huge changes with your divorce. Maybe you should go away for a
few days and have a break.

4. I think we might need to knock down / narrow down the choices we have as we’ll never be able to come to a
decision with so many possible alternatives.

5. If you are really sure about what you want, then you must stick to / take over your principles.

6. It was a perfect first date. We moved into / ended up agreeing to go out for a second date next week.

Instructions: Correct the underlined word below.

7. We all confront to the household expenses as we all have good jobs.

8. It’s important that we try to paint lessons from our failures rather than focusing on whose fault they were.

9. There has been a fortune of studies looking at what makes a marriage successful.

10. Unfortunately there is not sufficient evidence to contribute how the accident was caused.
 11. My parents would often take separate holidays because they liked to keep their relationship lucrative.

12. Who was to blame for the partnership’s failure remains highly celebrated.

Matching

Instructions: Match the first half of the sentences with the second half.
a. be given a good bonus if we met our targets this month.
b. have more friends if you weren't so direct.
c. closing the window because I'm cold?
d. complain about the music being too loud.
e. to explain how my phone got into your pocket?
f. eat chocolate for ages and then I'd eat three bars one after the other.
____ 1. Would you care ____
____ 2. Would you mind ____
____ 3. He would always ____
____ 4. Our boss said we would ____
____ 5. I wouldn't ____
____ 6. You would ____
 Units 2-3
Answer Section

MULTIPLE CHOICE

1. ANS: B
2. ANS: A
3. ANS: C
4. ANS: C
5. ANS: A
6. ANS: A
7. ANS: A
8. ANS: B
9. ANS: C
10. ANS: B
11. ANS: A

SHORT ANSWER

1. ANS:
drag down
2. ANS:
sound out
3. ANS:
going through
4. ANS:
narrow down
5. ANS:
stick to
6. ANS:
ended up
7. ANS:
contribute
8. ANS:
draw
9. ANS:
wealth
10. ANS:
determine
11. ANS:
fresh
12. ANS:
contested
 MATCHING
1. ANS: E
2. ANS: C
3. ANS: D
4. ANS: A
5. ANS: F
6. ANS: B