READING COMPREHENSION - TEXT
An Adventure in the Bush
They made their camp about four meters from the river’s edge. It took a while to get the tent sorted out. Finally it was up with the lantern hanging from the entrance pole. The sun was slipping down behind the trees by now, and Kevin was looking forward to see beyond the next bend in the river. Jim insisted they build the fireplace before leaving the camp. Kevin only pretended to grumble. He liked the way Jim was organizing things. Jim seemed more experienced out here, bringing branches and stones, talking about wind direction and stuff.
They collected a great stack of wood and built a circle of stones, then took a couple of oranges and went off downstream. They kept close to the river, and soon noticed that the beaches were always on the inside of the curves and the cliffs always on the outer edge. Kevin was throwing stick in the river. He soon noticed that the current was much stronger on the outer side of each curve.
At six o’clock by Kev’s watch they turned back, side tracking here and there into the forest. Kevin didn’t like the bush as much as the river. It seems lonely, untidy, and one part looked about the same as any other. Jim did not think so, because, despite appearances, they were not really alone there; the forest was crowded with life. So he looked out for things all the time. “Look!” he shouted, and Kev turned around, frightened. He saw a goanna. They watched the strange creature, its tongue flicking as if tasting the air. “I prefer them to snakes!” Kevin giggled nervously.

It was amazing. The wood felt dry, yet it would not burn. When all the newspaper was gone, they added leaves and twigs until their eyes watered with smoke. Then Kevin had an idea: he poured kerosene into an empty Coke can, dashed the fuel on the fire and jumped back. Instant success. They kept adding drops of kerosene, just for the fun, until Jim noticed they had used half of their supply. They piled wood on, and soon they had a fire too hot for cooking. So they opened a can of beans, ate them cold with bread, followed by fruit cake and washed down more warm coke. That was when Jim remembered the trick of putting the cans in the river to keep them cool.
ź bush – the wild, uncultivated parts of some tropical countries
ź goanna – a type of lizard
Choose the most appropriate answer (a, b, c or d) which you think fits best according to the text.
GRAMMAR TEST
A. Choose the correct item.
1. Can you the dog, please?
2. The train left five minutes ago.
3. Using a computer makes my head .
4. How is York from here?
5. I’ll be with you .
6. He spent the day in the garden.
B. Read the passage and put only the verbs in the brackets into the correct passive tense. Write the
correct form of the verb in the next column.
C. Choose the correct response:
1. A: Would you like cheesecake for dessert?.
B: No, I’d rather have a fruit salad. I’m afraid I won’t.
- A: Can you pass the salt, please?
B: Yes, I can. Yes, here you are.
- A: How about vegetable soup for starters?
B: That sounds lovely! That’s nice of you!
- A: Can I have some more tea, please?
B: Yes, of course. Help yourself. Got any ideas.
D. Choose the correct answer:
- He finished the reports yesterday, … he?
doesn’t didn’t wouldn’t wasn’t
- She asked … I would finish work at 5 o’clock.
when whether which in case
- When he … off the ladder, he broke his arm and hurt his back.
fell was falling falls is falling
- I’m sorry. I haven’t seen …
nothing no one someone anything
- The first train to London… at 6 o’clock.
had left leave leaves is left
- Where … her shoes last Saturday?
has she bought she bought did she buy does she buy
- I am not so … as he is.
cleverest clever cleverer as clever as
- She … TV when the phone rang.
is watching watches was watching has watched
- You … forget to hand in your homework tomorrow.
mustn’t needn’t don’t have are not
- He … to play tricks on his friends at school.
use used uses has used
E. Turn the following sentences into direct speech.
- He asked me why I wanted to be a teacher.
" ?"
- The teacher told me to stop talking.
" !"
- Helen told me she was going to join a gym.
" ."
- Mary asked me if she could borrow my dictionary.
" ?"