1. Read the story.
Vincent Van Gogh (1853-1890)
Nobody has ever paint cornfields or sunflowers like Van Gogh. His paintings are full of colour and sunlight. Today his painting are worth millions of pounds but in his lifetime he only sold one.
Van Gogh was born in Holland in 1853. He did not start painting until he was twenty-seven, ten years before he died. Before becoming a painter, he was a teacher, an art dealer and a church preacher.
In 1886 he left Holland and joined his younger brother, Theo, who was working in Paris at the time. After living there for two years, he moved to the warmer climate of Arles in the south of France. Here he painted some of his most famous pictures.
However, Van Gogh was mentally ill. During one of his fits of madness he attacked his friend, the artist Paul Gaugyin. In another fit of madness, Van Gogh cut off part of his own ear. Eventually he went into a mental hospital but he did not get any better.
Finally, on Sunday 27th July 1890, in the small village of Auvers, north of Paris, Vincent Van Gogh took a gun, went into a cornfield and shoot himself. When his brother Theo arrived, he said: “I hope I did it property.” Thirty-six hours later Van Gogh died in his brother’s arms. His last words were ‘La tristesse durera’. (The sadness will continue.)
2. Read the statements below the story. Write “T” after each true statement and “F” after each false statement.
1. Van Gogh was born in Holland in 1853.
2. He was eighteen when he started painting.
3. He was a doctor before becoming a painter.
4. He painted his most famous pictures in the south of France.
5. Nobody has ever paint cornfields or sunflowers like Van Gogh.
6. Van Gogh was mentally ill.
7. He get rather better after the hospital
8. He died in 1890.
3. Answer the questions
1. How many paintings did Van Gogh sell in his lifetime?
2. How old was he when he started painting?
3. What jobs did he have before becoming a painter?
4. Where did he paint his most famous pictures?
5. What was wrong with him?
6. How did he die?
4. Read the sentences and fill in the blanks. Find the correct answer among the four answers given below.
1. Yesterday was day this year.
a) the most hot b) hottest c) hotter d) the hottest
2. The Moskva river is not so long the Volga.
a) than b) as c) so d) that
3. Ted is than Steve.
a) tallest b) taller c) the tallest d) tall
4. This is story I ever heard.
a) funny b) the funniest c) funnier d) more funny
5. Pavel knows Literature than Biology.
a) good b) the best c) better d) best
6. This lecture is than the previous one.
a) the most boring b) boring c) most boring d) more boring
7. Room 23 is .
a) smaller b) the smallest c) smallest d) more small
5. Choose the right answer.
1. The room was full smoke.
a) with b) of c) off d) for
2. I can never see the blackboard because the tall boy always sits me.
a) behind b) in front of c) near d) next to
3. I’m interested studying economics.
a) of b) at c) in d) for
4. They tried to make agreeable.
a) itself b) oneself c) ourselves d) themselves
5. The reporter for a long time but he didn’t say anything.
a) speak b) told c) spoke d) said
6. She failed the exam. What a .
a) shame b) joy c) pleasure d) happiness
7. The boy works the computer so .
a) good b) bad c) better d) well
8. What’s that music you are .
a) hearing b) listening c) listening to d) listen
9. John missed his class as he didn’t want to the test.
a) take b) pass c) examine d) check
10. I can give you this book. You ___ go to the library.
a) wouldn’t b) needn’t c) may not d) can’t
6. Complete the sentences by supplying the correct forms of the verbs.
1. Yesterday I (go) shopping.
2. In England they (play) cricket in the summer.
3. Sh! I (listen) to the radio.
4. When I (enter) the hall, everybody (dance).
5. Lucy (finish) her report by now.
6. After we (finish) our dinner my sister washed the dishes.
7. We (move) to the new flat tomorrow.
8. My grandmother (watch) the same TV programmes for over five years.
9. While mother was cooking I (clean) the room.
10. She (play) tennis at the moment.
7. Present Simple or Present Continuous.
1. Her baby always ( to sleep) after lunch.
2. I am sorry, but my friend (to wait) for you.
3. She (to read) at the moment.
4. He (to drink) in the morning.
5. Look! She (to dance).
6. They (to go) to the cinema very often.
7. Wait a minute! I (to put) on my coat.
8. They (to watch) TV every night.
9. Mary (to drive) to her office every day?
10. She (to cook) dinner now?
11. We (not eat) now.
12. They always (to have) dinner at 2 o’clock?
13. What she (to white) at the moment?
14. Nick (not skate) once a week.
15. Listen to Helen! She (to sing) a new song
2. He was eighteen when he started painting. (F) This statement is false. According to the story, Van Gogh started painting when he was twenty-seven.
3. He was a doctor before becoming a painter. (F) This statement is false. Before becoming a painter, Van Gogh had various jobs like being a teacher, an art dealer, and a church preacher, but he was not a doctor.
4. He painted his most famous pictures in the south of France. (T) According to the story, Van Gogh painted some of his most famous pictures in Arles, which is located in the south of France.
5. Nobody has ever paint cornfields or sunflowers like Van Gogh. (T) This comparative statement is true. The story mentions that nobody has ever painted cornfields or sunflowers like Van Gogh.
6. Van Gogh was mentally ill. (T) According to the story, Van Gogh was mentally ill. He had fits of madness and eventually went into a mental hospital, but did not get any better.
7. He get rather better after the hospital. (F) This statement is false. The story does not mention that Van Gogh got better after being in the hospital. In fact, he eventually took his own life.
8. He died in 1890. (T) According to the story, Van Gogh died on Sunday 27th July 1890.
3. Answer the questions
1. How many paintings did Van Gogh sell in his lifetime?
- Van Gogh only sold one painting during his lifetime.
2. How old was he when he started painting?
- Van Gogh started painting when he was twenty-seven years old.
3. What jobs did he have before becoming a painter?
- Before becoming a painter, Van Gogh worked as a teacher, an art dealer, and a church preacher.
4. Where did he paint his most famous pictures?
- Van Gogh painted some of his most famous pictures in the south of France (specifically, in Arles).
5. What was wrong with him?
- Van Gogh was mentally ill.
6. How did he die?
- Van Gogh took a gun, went into a cornfield, and shot himself. He died in 1890.
4. Read the sentences and fill in the blanks.
1. Yesterday was the hottest day this year. (d)
2. The Moskva river is not as long as the Volga. (b)
3. Ted is taller than Steve. (b)
4. This is the funniest story I ever heard. (b)
5. Pavel knows Literature better than Biology. (c)
6. This lecture is more boring than the previous one. (a)
7. Room 23 is the smallest. (c)
5. Choose the right answer.
1. The room was full of smoke. (b)
2. I can never see the blackboard because the tall boy always sits in front of me. (b)
3. I’m interested in studying economics. (c)
4. They tried to make themselves agreeable. (d)
5. The reporter spoke for a long time but he didn’t say anything. (c)
6. She failed the exam. What a shame. (a)
7. The boy works with the computer so well. (d)
8. What’s that music you are listening to? (c)
9. John missed his class as he didn’t want to take the test. (a)
10. I can give you this book. You needn’t go to the library. (b)
6. Complete the sentences by supplying the correct forms of the verbs.
1. Yesterday I went shopping.
2. In England they play cricket in the summer.
3. Sh! I am listening to the radio.
4. When I entered the hall, everybody was dancing.
5. Lucy has finished her report by now.
6. After we finished our dinner, my sister washed the dishes.
7. We are moving to the new flat tomorrow.
8. My grandmother has been watching the same TV programmes for over five years.
9. While mother was cooking, I cleaned the room.
10. She is playing tennis at the moment.
7. Present Simple or Present Continuous.
1. Her baby always goes to sleep after lunch.
2. I am sorry, but my friend is waiting for you.
3. She is reading at the moment.
4. He drinks in the morning.
5. Look! She is dancing.
6. They go to the cinema very often.
7. Wait a minute! I am putting on my coat.
8. They watch TV every night.
9. Mary drives to her office every day?
10. Is she cooking dinner now?
11. We are not eating now.
12. They always have dinner at 2 o’clock?
13. What is she writing at the moment?
14. Nick does not skate once a week.
15. Listen to Helen! She is singing a new song.