Text 1. William Shakespeare
On April 23, 1564 William Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon-Avon. His mother was the daughter of a farmer. His father was a glove-maker. William attended a grammar school in Stratford and had quite a good education. There he learned to love reading.
While he was a teenager, he married a woman some years older than himself. He had three children: the eldest is the daughter and then twins – a son and another girl. In 1587 William went to work in London leaving his family at home. Some people say that the reason was his love of poetry and theatre.
In London Shakespeare began to write plays and become an important member of a well-known acting company. Most of his plays were performed in the new Globe Theatre built on the bank of the river Thames. In 1613 he stopped writing and went to live in Stratford when he died in 1616. His plays are well-known and still acted not only in England but in the whole world.
Reading- Comprehension Test № 1.
Write down the words and phrases used in the text
worker, farmer 3. 2 children, 3 children
listening, reading 4. cinema, theatre
Complete the sentences according to the text
1.Shakespeare was born…
a) on April 22 b) on April 23 c) on August 23
2. Shakespeare’s father was…
a) a glove-maker b) a clock-maker c) a shoe-maker
3. At school William learned to love…
a) dancing b) reading c) singing
4. Shakespeare went to work in…
a) New York b) Cardiff c) London
Write down if the sentences are true to the text or false
Shakespeare had twin daughters.
In 1587 Shakespeare went to work in London.
The Globe Theatre was built on the bank of the river Clyde.
Shakespeare’s plays are staged only in Britain
Answer the questions on the text
Where was W. Shakespeare born?
What school did W. Shakespeare attend in Stratford?
What did Shakespeare do in London?
Where and when did Shakespeare die?
Put the sentences in the order they are used in the text
Most of his plays were staged in the Globe Theatre.
He married a woman some years older than himself.
William had quite a good education.
He stopped writing and went to live in Stratford.
Text 2. A Sad Story
Three men came to New York for their holidays. Their names were Tom, Pete and Andy. They came to a hotel and asked for a room. The friends got a room on the forty-fifth floor.
They went sightseeing, visited the picture gallery and looked into some shops. In the evening they came back to the hotel from the cinema.
The servant in the hotel told them: “ I’m sorry, gentlemen, the lift doesn’t work. If you don’t want to go up to your room, you can sleep here, in the hall. I’ll bring you the bed linen.”
“ No, no”, said the men, “ we shan’t sleep in the hall. We shall go up to our room.” Then Tom said to his friends:” It’s not easy to go up to the forty-fifth floor. I know what we shall do. I shall tell you a lot of jokes. Andy will sing us songs and Pete will tell us an interesting story”.
The three friends went up to their room. They listened to Tom’s jokes, then Andy sang songs. When they came to the thirty-fifth floor, Tom said to Pete: “ Now we shall listen to your long and interesting story.”
“ Yes”, answered Pete, “but my story is short and very sad. I have no key with me. It is on the table in the hall.”
Reading- Comprehension Test №2
I. Choose the phrases which were used in the text
1. three men, four men 3. Theatre, cinema
2. New York, London 4. Funny stories, jokes
II. Choose the sentences which were used in the text
1. A)The friends got a room on the thirty-fifth floor.
B) The friends got a room on the forty-fifth floor.
2 A) They looked into some shops.
B) They looked into some supermarkets.
3. A) We shall go up to our room.
B) We shall sleep in the hall.
4. A) Andy told interesting stories.
B) Andy sang songs.
III. Complete the sentences according to the text
Three men came to…
The friends got a room on the…
Tom will..
Pete has left the key…
IV. Write down if the sentences are true to the text or false
1. Three men came to a restaurant.
2. Three men visited a picture gallery.
3. They came back from the cinema in the afternoon.
4. Pete will sing songs.
V. Answer the questions on the text
1. Where did three men come to?
2. Why did they go up to their room on foot?
3. Who told jokes?
4. What was Peter’s story?
