7 Reading test

Text 1. Carrying An Umbrella

The umbrella was brought to England from the East in the eighteenth century. It was used in the East as a protection against the sun. In England it was used more as a protection against the rain. The English people liked the umbrella very much. Later they put up a monument to the first man who appeared in the streets of London with an umbrella.

Of course, you can go out without an umbrella in rainy weather if you put on a raincoat, but our story today is about an umbrella. Here it is.

One day a man was walking in the street when he saw a little boy carrying an umbrella. “Little boy,” said the man, “why do you carry that umbrella over your head? It is not raining and the sun isn’t shining.” “When it rains,” answered the boy, “dad wants it. I can use it only when the weather is good.”

Task. Mark the following statements as true (T) or false (F).

1. The umbrella was bought in England in the eighteenth century.     

2. It was used in England as a protection from the sun.      

3. The English people were fond of the umbrella.     

4. You cannot go out without an umbrella in rainy weather in any case.      

5. It wasn’t wet when a little boy was carrying an umbrella.     

6. The boy’s brother takes the umbrella if it is rainy.     

Text 2. The Story About The Christmas Tree

Long, long ago, on one Christmas Eve, spiders were banished from homes while people cleaned the houses and broke their webs. They had to move to the farthest corner of the attic. Young spiders wanted to see the decorated Christmas trees and the little Christ child. The elders tried to tell the younger spiders that they were not allowed inside the rooms but the young spiders were quite curious. When the house was dark and silent and everybody was asleep, the spiders crept out of their hiding place and slowly reached the Christmas tree. They spent all night in the tree, examining its beautiful ornaments. They left pretty and delicate spider webs all over the tree. In the early hours of the morning, the little Christ child came to bless the house. He was surprised to find little spiders and their webs on the tree. The Christ child gently touched the spider webs and made them sparkling and shining in silver and golden colours. The Christmas tree looked even more beautiful than before.

When were spiders driven out of people’s homes?

Long, long ago, on one Christmas Eve, spiders were banished from homes while people cleaned the houses and broke their webs. They had to move to the farthest corner of the attic. Young spiders wanted to see the decorated Christmas trees and the little Christ child. The elders tried to tell the younger spiders that they were not allowed inside the rooms but the young spiders were quite curious. When the house was dark and silent and everybody was asleep, the spiders crept out of their hiding place and slowly reached the Christmas tree. They spent all night in the tree, examining its beautiful ornaments. They left pretty and delicate spider webs all over the tree. In the early hours of the morning, the little Christ child came to bless the house. He was surprised to find little spiders and their webs on the tree. The Christ child gently touched the spider webs and made them sparkling and shining in silver and golden colours. The Christmas tree looked even more beautiful than before.

Where did the spiders live?