The control-reading for the 6th form pupils
I. Read the text and do the tasks.
A Smart Lesson
Harry was always making excuses for forgetting to do things. His usual excuse was "I was too busy" or "I didn't have time". Harry's parents were worried about him. "He mustn't go through life making excuses all the time", his father said. "No one will trust him to do anything. He won't be able to keep a job. No sensible girl will want to marry him".
"I don't know what we can do", his mother said.
"I have an idea", his father said. "If this doesn't work, nothing will".
The next day was Harry's birthday. He was really looking forward to getting exciting presents. He woke up expecting his parents to wish him "Happy Birthday!" but all they said was "Good morning. Harry. Hurry, or you'll be late for school". There were no presents, not even a card. He was very disappointed. "Never mind", he thought. "There'll be a surprise for me after school". But there wasn't. Sadly he said to his parents at dinner, "Today's my birthday". "Oh!" his father said. "So it is. I forgot.'
"So did I", his mother said. "How could you forget?" Harry asked. "There must be a reason". "Well, yes", his father said. "We have a really good excuse for forgetting your birthday, Harry. We didn't remember your birthday because we were too busy". Poor Harry. He never had a silly excuse for not doing something again.
1. Answer the questions.
1) What did Harry make excuse for?
2) Whose birthday was it the next day?
3) What was he hoping to get?
4) What was he expecting when he woke up?
5) What did he get for his birthday?
II. Read the second text.
2. Put the parts of the text in the correct order.
Thanksgiving
A Today people remember those difficult times, .All the families get together on this holiday. They celebrate this holiday by eating a traditional dinner of turkey,
fruit and vegetables.
B The Americans celebrate Thanksgiving on the fourth Thursday in November each year. Many years ago people from England came to live in America. They had hard times during the first years of their living in a new land.
C In the evenings cities have parades with fireworks on this day. People wear costumes and go to the streets to have fun with their families and their friends.

D The Indians helped them to live out the difficult winter and to have a good harvest. The settlers from England prepared a dinner and invited the Indians to share it.
3. Write if the sentences are true or false. Correct the false sentences.
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6)
The Americans celebrate Thanksgiving Day at the beginning of November People had happy times when they came from England to America.
The settlers helped the Indians to live out the winter. The settlers had dinner together with the Indians.
Nowadays all the families get together on Thanksgiving Day. People don't like to go outdoors or have parades on this day.
4. Match the words with their definitions and write the letter in the correct box.
1 )The place where you can get the information. 2) Very old.
3) A part of the computer with many buttons.
4) A place where you can go in for sports.
5} A group of people, playing the same music together. 6) A group of people dressed in costumes,
going along the street.
5. Write the letter of the correct item.
a) keyboard b) parade
c) library d) ancient e) gym
f)orchestra
1) St Nicholas' Day is celebrated in
a) Ukraine b) Britain c) the USA
2) People give each other boxes of chocolate on
a) Christmas Day b) Victory Day c) St Valentine's Day
3) Children put on funny costumes on
a) Halloween Day b) Easter c) Thanksgiving Day
4) People give flowers to the veterans on
a) Independence Day b) New Year Day c) Victory Day
5) Children like to paint the eggs for
a) Christmas Day b) New Year Day c) Easter