14145 mixed reading and grammar

A HEALTHY MIND The brain is the most amazing part of our body and nobody really understands everything about it.. Getting a good night’s sleep, eating a balanced diet and taking deep br

READING Read the passage and answer the questions

A HEALTHY MIND

The brain is the most amazing part of our body and nobody really understands everything about

it But just like our bodies, it needs to be cared for in quite simple ways Getting a good night’s sleep, eating a balanced diet and taking deep breaths are all important methods of looking after both your body and your brain

Many people think their brain will slow down with age and their memory will get worse The truth is, just like your body, you can also improve your mind I’ve found I can improve my

memory by imagining what I need to remember For example, if I’m going shopping and I need bread, milk and a birthday card for my brother, I think of a loaf of bread, a carton of milk with a cow on the front and a birthday card with a football on it

You can use the same method for important dates If you have a picture of something in your mind, it’s much easier to remember it

Another way of improving your mind is to visit new places and have new experiences

Personally I find learning Spanish is a great way to keep the brain working Having a conversation

is so much better for your brain than looking at a computer screen or at other people talking on TV

Circle the correct answer

1 What is the writer’s main aim in

writing the text?

a) to explain how our body works

b) to talk about problems with the brain

c) to describe how clever she is

d) to suggest the brain needs attention

2) What does the reader learn about the writer from the text?

a) She has a computer

b) She is learning another language

c) She likes shopping

d) She enjoys travelling

3) What does the writer say about

the brain?

a) We must look after our brains

b) People know everything about the brain

c) The brain becomes tired when we are old

d) It works very hard when we watch TV

4) What does the writer say about her own memory?

a) It is possible to make it better

b) She can’t remember numbers at all

c) It has got worse over the years

d) She often forgets birthdays

5) What would be another title for the text?

a) Easy ways to develop your mind

b) We know everything about the brain

c) The power of memory

d) Learning Spanish is easy

USE OF ENGLISH

1) Fill in the gaps using Present Simple and Present Continuous

1 He never ……… (work) on Saturdays

2 It is cold this morning so we ……… (wear) our coats

3 Jim usually ……… (leave) for work at nine o’clock but this morning

he ……… (water) the flowers in the garden

4 ……… the sun ……… (shine) at the moment?

5 ……… Harry ……… (want) to go on the school trip?

6 ……… you ……… (play) with your friends every day?

7 Claire is in the bathroom She ……… (wash) her hair

8 I usually ……… (spend) all my money on CDs but at the moment I ……… (save) my money to buy a new laptop

2) Circle the correct tense

1 Kelly was having/ had a shower when her phone was ringing/rang.

2 Somebody was stealing/ stole Dave’s clothes while he was swimming / swam in the sea.

3 While Kate was reading/read the newspaper, her brother was watching/ watched TV.

4 When my mother was arriving/ arrived home, I was studying/studied

English

5 While I was doing/ did the washing up,I was breaking/ broke a plate.

3) Write the PAST TENSE forms of the verbs below

catch ……… think ……… buy

………

read ……… sell ………

4) Ask questions for the underlined words

1 ……….?

Mary drinks milk every morning

2 ……….?

Darren broke a valuable vase yesterday

3 ……….?

Mary is eating a hot dog now

4 ……….?

My friends usually sleep at 9.30

5 ……….? Carol was watching a horror film at ten o’clock last night